AWARD-WINNING No. 67 Autumn 2005

CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN FOR FOR REAL ALE REAL ALE

www.camrabristol.org.uk PPPIIINNNTSTSTS WWWEEESSSTTT PPAward-winning newsletter of the Bristol & District Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign forTT Real Ale New brewery opens in Keynsham

THE town of Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, is once again to have its own real ale micro-brewery. Situated in a small trading estate off the Bristol Road, the 10-barrel brewery uses equipment that lay unused for three years after the previous business ceased trading. Head brewer and director John Firth says he will concen- trate on providing flavour from his beers, the first of which is the 4.5% ABV Somerdale Gold, one of the new ‘Golden Ale’ category recently recognised by CAMRA. It is a pale coloured hoppy ale, with a floral citrus taste and spicy aroma. More regular beers will follow, including a lower-gravity bitter and something ‘dark and tasty’ for the autumn, plus an Xmas Ale and later some seasonal specials. John is an experienced Craft Brewer, long-term CAMRA member and currently Chairman of the Bristol and District Tasting Panel, so he knows a thing or two about how beers should taste. John says he especially loves the amazing variety of flavours that can be extracted from fresh hops of differing species, by combining them with the highest quality floor-malted barley and true brewers’ yeast. Strewth, it’s hot work setting up He says, “When I heard that Colin Brook, the landlord of your own brewery the Old Bank Inn on the High Street in Keynsham, was looking to re-open the brewery, I leapt at the chance to turn my hobby And so the Keynsham Brewing Company is born. into a business – every full-mash home brewer dreams of If you wish to find out more, perhaps to give the beer a try having his own micro-brewery. I’ve spent the summer thor- in your own pub, you can contact John Firth by phone on oughly cleaning and preparing the plant, conducting test 0117 9867889 or 07711 131203; by emailing jonfirth@ brewing, and organising supplies; now I’m ready to go, and the blueyonder.co.uk; or at the following address: new beer will be available at the Old Bank before the August Keynsham Brewing Co. Ltd., Brookleaze, Stockwood Vale, Bank Holiday, and at the Mayor’s Arms festival in Redcliffe’. Keynsham, Bristol BS31 2AL...... PINTS WEST ......

handpumps, some directly from casks stillaged Beer festival round-up in the corner of the pub. Redcliffe 25-29 August 0117 9575775 for information. Wedmore 23-25 September A beer festival is being organised for the This year they are supporting PROPS. From 23rd to 25th September there is the the Mayor’s Arms in Redcliffe, Bristol to run This is a charity raising funds and Providing “5 & Live” Wedmore real ale festival, once from Thursday 25th August through to the Opportunities and Support for disabled again to be held in the Wedmore Village Hall. bank holiday Monday on the 29th. Hopefully children. There will be a selection of 32 beers from this issue of Pints West will be out just in time around the UK, including medal winners from for some readers to catch this event. Shirehampton 10 September the Great British Beer Festival. For more This will be an important event for the For the sixth year in a row, the information on this fund-raising event check pub as it will formally declare the pub as a real Lamplighters in Shirehampton will their web site at www.wedmorerealale.com. ale establishment, not something it was be holding their Real Ale & Music particularly renowned for in the past – until Festival in their spacious garden Bedminster 30 September to 3 October Cyril Standbridge took the place on recently. during the afternoon and evening of Just like its relation, the White Lion in the Cyril has a good track record, having previ- Saturday, the 10th of September. city centre, Wickwar’s second pub, the ously worked at the Plume of Feathers and the The Lamplighters is a pleasantly Princess of Wales in Bedminster, is getting Merchants Arms in Hotwells. located riverside pub, dating from the into the beer festival scene. Following the It is expected that there will be up to two 18th century, overlooking Pill on the resounding success of the first one in June it dozen beers on offer over the weekend, other side of the River Avon. The pub will be holding its second festival from Friday featuring a wide variety of beer styles and normally has four beers, typically from Bath 30th September through to Monday 3rd strengths. It will also feature some of the first Ales, Butcombe, Fuller’s and others, but one October. The previous festival featured “beers supplies of Somerdale Gold from the new day every September sees the erection of from the north” – this time it will be “beers Keynsham brewery. stillage in the garden and a great selection of from the south”. Once again there will be Give this pub your support if you can, beers from far and wide, often featuring current music and food and to accompany the beer – and maybe we can get Redcliffe featuring more or past Champion Beer of Britain finalists. from handpump and stillage – plus “guess the prominently on the real ale map. The pub is only a couple of minutes’ walk mystery ale”. from the Shirehampton railway station on the Cleeve 27-28 August Severn Beach line so not difficult to get to. Winscombe 30 September to 2 October The second Cleeve Rugby Football Club Entry is by advance ticket at £6 (programme, Wrington Vale Rotary Club will be Beer Festival is on Saturday 27th and Sunday glass and entertainment included), so pop in holding their fifth Beer and Cider Festival at 28th August 2005. Tickets are normally £6 for yours or give them a call on 0117 9823549. Winscombe Cricket Club, just off the A38 near but, if you’re in time, can be bought in advance Sidcot, where you can enjoy a large and by CAMRA members at the discounted price Bristol city centre 16-18 September extensive range of beers and ciders in a of £4 from Cleve RFC, Cossham Street, Building on the success of their previous convivial location. Mangotsfield, Bristol BS16 9EN. Telephone festivals, the White Lion in Bristol’s city It takes place from Friday 30th September centre will be holding to lunchtime Sunday 2nd Oct. Opening times another event they dub and prices are Friday evening 7pm to 12pm, “Bristol’s smallest Saturday evening 7pm to12pm, Sunday beerfest”. The small lunchtime 12noon to 3pm. Entrance fees are £2 The Swan Inn Wickwar pub will be for Friday, £4 for Saturday and £1 for Sunday Tockington offering 16 or so beers lunchtime. from around the Prices include souvenir glass, entertain- country between the ment, car parking etc. There will be entertain- 16th and 18th of ment on both Friday and Saturday evenings. September, some from On Friday evening there will be the gentle

7th, 8th & 9th October 2005 Come and join us in our 1st Beer Festival Tickets on sale now £5 per ticket Over 20 real ales available, Live Entertainment, Hog Roast (Sat) BBQ’s and lots more Contact Sue Chance for more details. Tockington Green, Tockington, Bristol BS32 4NJ 01454 614800 [email protected]

2 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST tones of the Cliffton Jazz Band playing of darker beers will be pleased to know that traditional tunes, whilst you can savour the stouts and milds should be featuring. varied selection of beers and ciders. On Saturday night you can taste the beers and CAMRA Beer Festivals maybe if you desire dance the evening away to the excellent band the Pocket Rockets, a band Minehead 17-18 September who proved to be a great success at last year’s Don’t miss one of the great beer festival festival. To calm down after two nights of venues of the year as September sees the excess, Sunday lunchtime will be a gentle affair staging of the sixth Somerset Beer Festival on to have a last chance to polish off any the platform of Minehead Station. remaining favourites. Please note any beer that Step off the train straight into the festival. remains after the festival will be sold off at Around 90 beers and ciders from local and discount rates in 5-litre containers. country-wide microbreweries will be available, Tickets may be purchased in advance by including festival specials. Food will be post from Wrington Vale Rotary Beer Festival, available all sessions, with entertainment on Highwater, Norville Lane, Cheddar, BS27 3HJ. Saturday evening (singer-songwriter Helena), Send a stamped, addressed envelope and and Sunday lunchtime (to be arranged). cheque made payable to “Wrington Vale The festival will be open from 11am to Rotary Club”, to arrive before Wednesday 28th 11pm on the Saturday and 12 noon to 4pm on Bath Beer Festival 2005 logo September. Any enquiries call Mark on 07702 the Sunday. Admission is free, though as drawn by Jade Potter aged 12 589617 or directly from Thatcher’s Cider purchase of a commemorative glass (£2.50) or Shop, Sandford. hard plastic glass (50p) will be required. once again to the Old Railway Museum in Travel by scenic West Somerset Railway Faringdon Road for their 2005 festival. Thornbury 28-29 October (reduced fare for card-carrying CAMRA The dates for the Swindon Beer Festival The evenings of Friday 29th and Saturday members) or by bus from Taunton. Plenty of 2005 are Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th 30th October see the return of the fifth annual local B&B accommodation should be available October. There will be four sessions: Thurs- beer festival held at Christ The King Social (details from Minehead Tourist Board). For day evening 6pm to 11pm; Friday lunchtime Club in Castle Street, Thornbury. further information call Barrie Childs on 01935 12 noon to 3.30pm; Friday evening 6pm to Friday times are 7.30pm to 11pm, and 825566. 11pm; and Saturday from 12 noon to 8pm. Saturday’s are 5pm to 11.30pm. Entrance is Admission to each seesion is £2, except for £2 for each session, with twelve real ales to Bath 14-15 October Friday evening which is £3. Friday evening is sample at £1.80 a pint – or three pints for £5 – In October we can all pop down to the also advance ticket only. plus hot food and live music. 28th Bath Beer Festival at the Pavilion, North Please note there will be a restricted choice Parade Road, just a five-minute walk from of beers from Saturday lunchtime onwards, so Hotwells 17-20 November Bath Spa railway station. go early to avoid disappointment! Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th November The festival is open Friday evening from The admission fee includes a souvenir glass are the dates for another of the ever-popular 6pm to 11pm, Saturday lunchtime from 11am and there will be a free pint for CAMRA festivals now held twice a year at the Bag to 3.30pm, and Saturday evening from 6pm to members. All sessions will have food available O’Nails in Hotwells. As in previous years, 11pm. and there will be a T-shirt and memorabilia the pub will be offering forty or more different There will be a selection of at least 60 real stand. real ales from all over the country. The pub is ales, plus traditional ciders and Belgian beers. For Friday evening only tickets are not exactly huge, so not all beers can be on at Admission (including programme) is £5 available in advance; all other sessions are the same time. However, if you popped along Friday evening, £4 Saturday lunchtime and payment on the door. Tickets go on sale on all four days you should get the chance to £4.50 Saturday evening. There will be a £1 Friday 23rd September 2005. sample a good proportion of them. The pub discount to card-carrying CAMRA members Postal applications for beer festival tickets will be open all day from noon over the period, at each session. Please note though that this can be made to Richard James, 6 Ripley Road, with snacks available much of the time. Lovers discount is claimed on the door – the full price Swindon, Wilts. SN1 4DE. Please make must be paid when cheques payable to “CAMRA Swindon & N ordering tickets in Wilts branch” and include a stamped, self- advance. addressed envelope. Advance tickets are For further information keep an eye on the The Bag O’Nails available from Steve Swindon CAMRA web site at 141 St. George’s Road, Hotwells, Hunt, 23 Clearwood, www.swindoncamra.org.uk. Bristol BS1 5UW Tel: (0117) 9406776 Dilton Marsh, SP Westbury, Wilts, BA13 4BD. Please A Real Ale Pub state the session(s) LAMPLIGHTERS required and send your Bristol & District CAMRA cheque, made payable (Riverside Bar) to Bath & Borders Station Road, Shirehampton Pub Of The Year 2000 CAMRA, and enclos- Bristol BS11 9XA Tel: 0117 9823549 ing a stamped, ad- (2 mins Shire station) Host to two beer festivals a year dressed envelope. Sat 10th September At least 12 different real ales a week Swindon 13-15 Noon till Dusk Imported German wheat beers October 6th Annual Following the English bottle-conditioned beers success of their 2003 Real Ale & Music Festival Unpasteurised imported bottled lagers and 2004 festivals, the Entrance by ticket only Web : www.bagonails.org.uk Swindon branch of £6.00 Email : [email protected] CAMRA are to return (includes glass & programme)

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 3 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Pint-sized Smiles to brew in Bristol Colston Avenue. A Bristol team including again architects Narracott Oxford Mills and CSJ Crosswords Planning, have been appointed to start work on a scheme, which is expected to go forward Just for fun. You decide where WHEN the brewing of Smiles was moved for planning shortly. the answers to the clues go. to Highgate there was a glimmer of hope The long term brewing future for Smiles that a microbrewery might be opened on Beer will now be secured with the traditional the site of the Bristol Smiles brewery and Smiles pub – The Brewery Tap - being Handled glass that at least some of the Smiles beers retained and enlarged to include a new micro --- Palace would again be brewed in Bristol. brewery. Residential accommodation will be Drip --- Firm news on this has been scarce, provided in the upper parts of the renovated Mash --- until the following press release was building. (brewery vessel) received toward the end of July... Alistair Mort, Managing Director of Smiles Pub Company, is delighted to be bringing back Smiles to the heart of the city, What all ale creating exciting job opportunities and should be substantially increasing the profile of the Abbey Ales Smiles name. “We are committed to investing pub in and growing our business, and for the Quarter pint customer that equates to quality food, fine ale, Intimate bar and excellent customer service in a relaxed and Smiles all round at property deal which friendly environment.” sees the return of brewing to the heart of Will Fraser Allen of Close Venture Bristol. Management Limited agrees “We are thrilled to King’s ---- (pub Successful Bristol-based developer, Urban be supporting the return of Smiles brewing to in Kingsdown) Creation, has celebrated its first year in Bristol. The plans for the building enables Bath ---- business by adding yet another intriguing site Smiles to thrive in an environment that (brewers) to the growing list of projects it is working on respects the integrity of the original pub, and Malt & hops drink in the city. Only two months after acquiring brings the brewing operation into the Twenty Another pub the historic Pro-Cathedral, in Clifton, the First Century.” in Kingsdown company has announced that they are to Darren Sheward, Director of Urban partner the Smiles Pub Company Limited in Creation comments: “Our focus in the city is the redevelopment of the Smiles brewery site on delivering high quality sustainable develop- Brewers of Old in Bristol. ments, and our aim here is to rejuvenate the Spot & Pig’s Ear Urban Creation, the Smiles Pub Company buildings whilst retaining the character and Length of ale Limited and Close Venture Management special quality that is the very essence of the White ---- Limited, have teamed up to work on plans for Smiles name. We will certainly look forward to (Wickwar pub) an exciting sustainable mixed-use scheme at the toasting this development in true Smiles Dispense from Upper Maudlin Street site at the top of style!” bottle to glass

Handy beer The return of the volume Hop ---- (brewery) Swan ---- White Friar Places to drink WHITE FRIAR, one of the occasional beers all of our production. from Bath’s Abbey Ales brewery, goes on sale Head brewer Martin again around the end of August. The beer Langham tries to fit in proved so popular last time it went on sale brewing occasional India Pale Ales that Abbey were asking customers to order beers when he can. Our regular customers are ---- O’Bells early to avoid disappointment, as last year it aware how quickly the guests sell and try to Butcombe ---- sold out before the beer had even finished order early!” Port of ---- (joint brewing. Abbey Ales started brewing in Bath in Pub of the Year) The 5.0% ABV golden-coloured hoppy ale 1997 and have won a number of awards for was originally created as ‘Jubilation’ to Bellringer, their golden 4.2% best bitter. coincide with the Queen’s visit to Bath in her Delivery is strictly within a twenty-mile Bittering plant Golden Jubilee year. As it was so well radius of Bath’s famous Abbey, although German beer received, Abbey Ales re-introduced it – under Bellringer is available nationally via beer style (meaning the name of White Friar – and this year it even wholesalers. “old”) comes with a new pump clip design. White Friar was also voted the favourite Brewery outlet Managing Director Alan Morgan com- occasional beer in a poll recently held on the --- Vine (defunct mented, “We have always wanted to regularly brewery web site at www.abbeyales.co.uk. Somerset brew a range of different beers to compliment Alan says that White Friar will only be brewery) our best selling Bellringer but the need to meet sold locally to pubs in the Bath and Bristol SP the demand for our flagship ale takes up nearly area. 4 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST The Rose The Albert Inn closed WHAT A SURPRISE. Another day, & Crown another pub closure, as the Albert Inn faces imminent redevelopment into flats. Famed for its top-class jazz and folk music the pub was is no more sometimes known as the Albert Hole. In addition to the likes of Andy Sheppard and Ronnie Scott, the pub had also been a venue for Bristol & District CAMRA branch meetings in years gone by. After 25 years at the Albert, landlord Ian Storrer is not at all happy about the way things have worked out. The pub has had a succession of owners who have been reluctant to spend any money on its upkeep in return for the “The Law is substantial rent he has had to pay. And now the current owners (be- lieved to be a property company) an Ass” appear to have decided to cash in on its value as housing rather than AFTER 300 years as a public house, the Rose as a viable business. & Crown at Iron Acton will be converted into Something must be done to stop a private one. Planning permission was granted by the South Gloucester Development Control companies from getting planning Committee on 21 July 2005. permission to change the use of The Campaign for Real Ale and many from public houses, or there won’t be any the Iron Acton community campaigned long local or individual ones left! and hard to save the pub – as you may have The Albert Inn closed on Friday, seen from the previous two issues of Pints 5th August. The pub has always West – but ultimately to no avail. had plenty of memorabilia, much of it musical, and they are selling this There are apparently two criteria for off. allowing conversion a pub. One is that it is not Richard Brooks a viable business. Locals and CAMRA members had demonstrated that this was not (who took the photos too) the case. Indeed, there were people interested in buying it and running it as a business, although the licensee would not sell. The second is that there are similar facilities nearby. This was the killer, as there are two other pubs in Iron Acton. No account was taken of the style of those pubs or the clientele they attract. So there you have it. Any unscrupulous licensee who wants to cash in on the value of their public house as a private residence (regardless of the history of the pub or its place in the local community) can do so as long as there is another pub nearby. Expect more rural pub closures soon! Richard Brooks WARNING From the Management of the

HOPE & ANCHOR

Exceptional Public House SPILL BEER SPILL DON'T

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 5 ...... PINTS WEST ......

quaffed here, as well as the London Pride and Courage Best Bitter. Which sets you thinking… If that is Shine on the Hill Courage’s Best Bitter, what must the other EVERY issue we ask Pints West readers stuff have been like? Did John Courage to let us know if there is a part of Bristol organise some sort of blind tasting all those (& District) that you would like to see years ago? You picture the committee saying featured in this column. Well, we have “Well, Beer A is full-bodied with an inviting, been absolutely inundated with an email golden tone and a pleasant, slightly fruity from Helen Key of the Cotham Porter flavour; on the other hand, Beer B is a lovely Stores suggesting we have a little look crisp, refreshing ale with a lovely balance of around ‘The Hill’. Well Helen, only too English hops… but I think we’ll go with the happy to oblige. one that tastes like last week’s dishwater”. Full details and photographs of all the (Tut tut, you are in a mischievous mood - Ed.) pubs mentioned can be found on the Your guide tuts slightly, pointing out you www.britishpubguide.com web site. shouldn’t scoff, and that an awful lot of Landlords and regulars in these pubs are people drink and enjoy Courage Best Bitter. welcome to update the information on the Micawber’s Ale House You tell him that an awful lot of people drink website whenever they like. lager too, and actually pay ten pence extra if – according to local legend – condemned men the word ‘cold’ appears on the dispenser. PICTURE THE SCENE: your six-year-old used to sup their final pint before being hanged “An awful lot of people”, you add, warming to son has spent the last two hours dragging you at the top of the hill. Of course it was the the theme, “drink a half-pint of stale chemicals up and down Christmas Steps because he Colston Arms in those days, but someone saw topped up with shaving foam just because it thinks it’s Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter fit to change the name to try and lend a fake says ‘smooth’ somewhere on the pump clip”. stories, and is rather hoping you’ll buy him Victorian ambience to a genuinely historic pub. With a percipience that verges on the something from Quality Quidditch Supplies. The beers here are Butcombe Bitter and uncanny, your guide guesses that you’re going Exasperated, you decide you need a drink. But Brain’s S.A. to give the Courage Best a miss, and you both where to go? You can’t visit the Three Sugar enjoy the London Pride tremendously. Loaves because your son keeps calling it the Time is pressing, so you hurry past Bar Leaky Cauldron and anyway, you covered it 155, the pub that has had more name changes in the last issue of Pints West. than Liz Taylor, but you notice that London A shambling, slightly jaded looking figure Pride is available on hand pump. appears next to you, and clears his throat. “Well, if you head further up the hill, there are plenty of pubs to try”. “But Dad,” says your son “we can’t go to loads of pubs, that’s really boring and some of them probably don’t allow kids”. “There there,” you reassure him “there’s no need to worry. You’re a fictitious child so I can dispose of you in any way I see fit and the The Robin Hood social services won’t be able to do a thing about it”. So, having sold the little chap to a Next, you move up to the Robin Hood. A passing tradesman, you head on up St. lovely one-bar pub with ornate arches at the Michael’s Hill. front and, inside, stripped floorboards and dark wood furnishings. The beers on offer are from the Wadworth stable, plus guests, with The Highbury Vaults the 6X on particularly good form alongside Next to the Highbury Vaults, with its Summersault. heated rear garden and a myriad crannies – but At the top of the hill you reach The White nary a nook in sight – to sit and sup the Bear. An old coaching inn complete with a selection of Young’s beers. There is Young’s large statue of, erm, a white bear, and a cobbled Bitter, Young’s Special and a particularly courtyard. This is a rambling old pub with scrumptious pint of Young’s Golden Zest pool table at the front and a myriad little alongside St. Austell Tribute, Bath Gem and nooks – but oddly no crannies – in which to Brain’s S.A. The Highbury Vaults is still one sit. An occasional Black Rat cider can be of the best real ale pubs in Bristol, and you’re delighted it hasn’t changed in all the years you’ve known it. Having completed the St. Michael’s Hill The Scotchman and his Pack section of your walk, your Guide tells you The first pub you reach is The Scotchman that next is Little Paul Street (behind the And His Pack, a charming little pub with a houses opposite the White Bear). Here is suntrap terrace and upstairs pool table. Sadly, something of an undiscovered gem. The Kings at the time of your visit, the pub is closed, but Arms isn’t on the way to or from anywhere your guide remembers that it has been selling really, so unless you know about it, you’re Adnams Bitter, Flowers I.P.A., and Wells unlikely to find it by accident. It’s been there Bombardier Best Bitter in the past. You make since 1862, but has a modern feel, and looks a note to check it out in time for the next issue over a small green. Bass is on tap, but you and move on. plump for a pint of Sharp’s Doom Bar while Almost immediately you come across your guide tries the Bath Gem. Both beers are Micawber’s Ale House. This is the pub where The White Bear in fine fettle (is ‘fettle’ ever anything other 6 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST

The King’s Arms The Bell Cotham Porter Stores than ‘fine’?). few years. Everard’s Sunchaser, Butcombe, popular. The ciders on handpump are From the Kings Arms you stroll down to and St. Austell Tribute are all resident, while Thatcher’s Cheddar Valley and Thatcher’s The Bell in Alfred Place. The Bell is a Everard’s Tiger and the award-winning Dry, which the regulars often augment with a charming, old-fashioned boozer, which Caledonian Deuchar’s I.P.A. are the guests. slice of lemon. However, as well as the cider eschews [bless you! – Ed] the trendy, lager- The Sunchaser is to die for, and the Butcombe there is Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Sharp’s fuelled crowd for a quiet dignity where is as good here as anywhere in the City. Eden Ale, which is a far superior beer to the conversation is king. The beer here is superb, Penultimate pub is the Hare On The Hill, ubiquitous ‘Doom Bar’ from the same with Abbey Bellringer and RCH Pitchfork on the excellent, flagship pub of Bath Ales, selling brewery. when you visit. the full range of their beers, including Wild You like the atmosphere at the C.P.S. so The next pub is the Kingsdown Vaults, on Hare. Your guide points out that this is Bath’s much, you decide to stay for a second pint of the junction between Clevedon Terrace and new Organic beer. It’s a citrusy, golden beer Cheddar Valley. The next thing you know, Kingsdown Parade. Here, you are pleasantly with a clean, crisp aftertaste. If you haven’t you are waking up to discover you have been surprised to find that they serve Thatcher’s tried it yet, then you need to. turned into a mouse. You can just make out Cheddar Valley and Thatcher’s Traditional The quest ends back on Cotham Road, in your son walking away with a huge, hairy Cider on handpump. The Cheddar Valley is the Cotham Porter Stores. Now, the Cotham giant of a man who’s saying, “That’ll teach the thoroughly gorgeous, while your guide very Porter Stores has long been a favourite pub of stupid Muggle not to sell his children!” much enjoys another pint of Bath Gem. yours, with its eclectic mix of locals, workers Duncan Shine Acutely aware that this pub crawl is taking and even the occasional businessman. Known Is there an area covered by the Bristol & up an awful lot of space, you pick your way for selling considerably more traditional cider District Branch of CAMRA that you would like down to Fremantle Square, and past the than beer, the Cotham Porter Stores is a to see featured in this column in the next issue? barriers into Hillgrove Street North and the narrow, one-bar pub with an extended drinking If so, send an email to Hillgrove Porter Stores. Now this is a area to the rear. Live sport is shown on the [email protected] and we’ll stonking pub, and much improved over the last telly, with Test Match Cricket always see what we can do.

The Princess of Wales The White Lion Westbourne Grove, Bedminster Quay Head, Bristol City Centre presents its second presents another Mini Beer Festival Mini Beer Festival FRIDAY 30TH SEPT through to MONDAY 3RD OCT FRIDAY 16TH through to SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER “RARE” BEERS FROM THE SOUTH ALL BEERS @ £1.90 per pint. Featuring No entrance fee, No door fee. 10% discount on all beers “PAST CHAMPIONS” for card-carrying CAMRA members No entrance fee, No door fee. ‘???? GUESS THE MYSTERY ALE ????’ BAR-B-Q/PIG ROAST (weather permitting) ‘???? GUESS THE MYSTERY ALE ????’ GREAT MUSIC A very warm welcome from your hosts A very warm welcome from your hosts Richard & Sheleen Les & Carol SEE YOU THERE !! SEE YOU THERE !! National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 7 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Cotleigh Brewery Awarded ‘Best Drinks Producer of the Year’ AT the Royal Bath and West Show on Friday Smiles all round at the 3rd June, Cotleigh Brewery was awarded Best Drinks Producer at a presentation of the Somerset Life, Food and Drink Awards. Naval Volunteer Somerset Life magazine asked its readers to vote for their favourite pubs, products, IT IS now well known that the Highgate staff at the Naval Volunteer – good to see such restaurants, food producer, farm shop, chef Brewery in Walsall has taken over the brewing knowledgeable bar staff (shame they didn’t and drinks producer. A distinguished panel of of Smiles beer following the demise of Smiles share the prize of eight pints of Smiles beer judges then interviewed all the finalists. Brewery. It was therefore fitting that Hannah around though!). At the award ceremony Partner Fred Dunkerley, the Free Trade Area Manager for The beers themselves were in fine condi- Domellof said, “This is a fantastic award and Smiles, and Neil Bain, the Head Brewer at tion. I particularly enjoyed the Smiles Best reflects the passion and dedication of all the Highgate, should come to Bristol to explain the and the Heritage though I must say neither staff at Cotleigh. It also shows our commit- reasons behind the decision to brew Smiles tasted as I remember them (though that is ment to brewing excellence to which our beer. probably a good thing). customers and consumers aspire in the South It was also appropriate that the venue Neil mentioned that he is very keen on West. We will continue to purchase the best should be the Naval Volunteer on King Street opening a micro-brewery at the Brewery Tap local ingredients and we look forward to as this pub was serving a number of Smiles on Park Row and brew at least one of the developing new and exciting initiatives within beers in very good condition. Smiles beers on the premises. the local community. We would like to thank Neil gave a 30-minute presentation on Overall it was a great night. I was the judges, the staff and all the readers of Highgate brewery and the techniques involved impressed by Highgate’s plans for Smiles and I Somerset Life Magazine”. in the brewing of the various Smiles beers would like to thank Hannah, Neil and the Cotleigh Brewery has just celebrated its (accompanied by samples of the malt and hops Naval Volunteer for their very generous 25th anniversary year and has been producing and samples of each beer in the range for the hospitality. Tawny for almost 26 years. The company audience to try – very generous!). The As for the pub itself, the Naval Volunteer delivers Tawny, Barn Owl, Cotleigh 25 and presentation was well attended and most of is a great traditional pub and was recently th Golden Eagle to more than 300 pubs and the audience came away learning a lot about (August 12 ) stocking two Smiles beers stores in the South West. Distribution to the the brewing process judging by the conversa- (Blonde and Best) and two guest beers (from rest of the country is through selected tion afterwards. Jennings and Gales) and all four were in good wholesalers. The company is owned by At the end of the presentation there was a condition. I would urge people who have not Stephen Heptinstall and Fred Domellof. quiz about beer, which was won by the bar tried the pub for a while to give it a go. Dr. David Jane

Brewing excellence from the Heart of Somerset since 1979 It has been 26 years since Cotleigh Brewery started trading from its first home, the Cotleigh Farmhouse in Washfield near Tiverton in Devon. Immediate success forced the brewer to move to larger premises, and in 1980 the company relocated to Wiveliscombe, 11 miles west of Taunton. Last year the business celebrated its Jubilee 25th Anniversary. Cotleigh Brewery supplies 300 Freehouses in the South West and is available in the rest of the UK through selected wholesalers. Cotleigh Beers will now be available to the Bristol area.

Tawney Bitter Buzzard Dark Ale Golden Eagle Best Bitter 3.8% abv 4.8% abv 4.2% abv A West Country classic, a subtle hop palate Traditional old ale, deep copper red in colour. The Smooth and malty with a background of which blends with the sweetness of the malt, chocolate malt gives a dry nutty flavour with honey flavours offering a refreshing and to give a beautiful and balanced flavour. hints of amarone biscuit. citrus finish.

Barn Owl Premium Ale Cotleigh 25 Harrier Lite 4.5% abv 4.0% abv 3.5% abv Copper coloured with hints of toffee and nut An explosion of flavours originating from the A light golden low alcohol beer with with a smooth malty bitter sweet finish. American Cascade hops gives this brilliant pale adelicate floral and fruuity aroma leading to Champion Beer of the Maltings Festival 1995. golden beer a fresh aroma and a fruit filled finish. a smooth, almost sweet finish.

Cotleigh Brewery, Ford Road, Wiveliscombe, Somerset TA4 2RE Tel: 01984 624086 Fax: 01984 624365 Email: [email protected] www.cotleighbrewery.com 8 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Swanning around with Genial John AFTER suffering numerous frustrations in finding a suitable pub to add to their portfolio, Bath Ales have now taken over The Swan at Swineford. Situated half way between Bristol and Bath on the A431, The Swan is well known to lovers real ale and genuine country pubs. The village of Swineford developed near the point where a small tributary of the Avon crosses the old Roman road. According to legend the river mud has miraculous properties. Celtic Prince Bladud, the legendary founder of Bath, and his pigs were cured of leprosy when fording the river here. The pub is at the heart of the village on the Bath road and is con- verted from three cottages in a row of six, opposite an old flax mill on the north bank of the Avon and now a traditional village inn (circa 1846). The main bar has a log fire and serves up some fine ales now includ- ing all the Bath Ales favourites, and the curving wood and leather bar is popular with the locals. There is a no-smoking area in the pub and a restaurant area; each having a distinct atmosphere. Good, home-prepared food is served daily, and booking for Sunday lunch is advisable. If you are just in the area visiting then you’ll love the local nearby walks. One excellent circular walk can be started at the pub, details on the Bristol City Council website at www.bristol-city.gov.uk/tourism/ pdf/7map.pdf. For the time being The Swan will be looked after by cellar meister genial John Lansdale, the well-known Bath Ales character, so you’re sure to get a warm welcome and good advice on the beers available for you to try.

Wild Hare Demand for the brewery’s new organic beer, Wild Hare, has been huge, and the brewers are struggling to make enough of this delightful pale hoppy beer.

More information about the brewery is available at their newly revamped website, www.bathales.com. This now includes an on- line shop and gives details of brewery tours. Steve O’Shea b a t h a l e s To enjoy the full range of bath ales beers at their best, pay a visit to one of our pubs The Hop Pole Upper Bristol Road, Bath (opposite Victoria Park playground) The Hare on the Hill Dove Street, Kingsdown, Bristol The Merchants Arms Merchants Road, Hotwells, Bristol The Salamander John Street, Bath The Wellington Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol The Bridge Inn Passage Street, Bristol The Swan Bath Road, Swineford Casks and beer boxes available for parties and functions Contact bath ales on 0117 9527580 or email [email protected] Look out for the 2006 edition of the Good Beer www.bathales.co.uk Guide – coming soon to a bookshop near you. National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 9 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Bedminster – East Street Circle IT was a balmy night towards the end of June enclosed courtyard at the rear was very when we set off on our tour of East Street, welcoming, and as the early evening sun caught Bedminster. The Glastonbury Music Festival the well-tended hanging baskets, we drank our had just finished, but the most music we got way through the beer range. This end of that weekend was listening to the massed Irish Bedminster has recently seen a lot of new fiddlers at the Princess of Wales Beer Festival, apartments being built – we stroll past the as we worked our way through the beers on latest project, which is the conversion of the offer and tried to guess the mystery ale’s library and the old police station with its fire identity. lookout tower, into flats and a new modern We had decided to start our exploration at library. the Bedminster Bridge end of East Street and work our way back to the London Inn, so if Terry Goodfield’s experience still remained true, we wouldn’t have so far to get home! We Barley Mow got off the 77 bus outside of Asda and waited for our friend Dave to join us, but alas he was further on down Philip Street, with Bedmin- tied up. ster Station even further over by Windmill Hill. We retrace our footsteps back to Bedmin- ster Parade where the Barley Mow sits on the corner of East Street and still, remarkably, retains its green and brown exterior tiling (once a common marker for a pub). Taunton White Hart Traditional cider was on offer, but no cask ales. It’s hard to believe when it’s so hot Across the road is the White Hart, an tonight, that on 10th July 1968, to the crash of eighteenth-century inn that has a large function thunder and the flash of lightning, nearly seven room at the rear, where we have been to many inches of rain fell on Bristol. It was closing great birthday and engagement parties over the time when the floods hit the Barley Mow; a years. The front bar is looking a bit tatty and tidal wave came down Philip Street, and with the Courage Best was warm, so we say the bar five feet under water, the regulars fled Little Grosvenor goodbye to the life-size cardboard statue of up stairs. Elvis stood in the corner, and turn into Philip It’s a ten-minute walk along East Street, Walking through Asda’s car park towards Street. past the old WD & HO Wills cigarette factory the Little Grosvenor on Coronation road, we This street marks the end of Bedminster that was built in 1886 on the ancient ruins of found a very friendly pub serving an accept- Parade and the beginning of East Street. It St. Catherine’s Hospital. This factory quickly able pint of Bass (it’s what the landlord began life as a “Rope Walk” in 1840 but was expanded over the Brightbow slum area that drinks). The darts team were getting ready for soon tightly covered in back to back housing, had grown up around this end of the Malago a match in this small pub, and as the tables festering small courts and alleyways to house stream. The Malago had once been the life were taken outside to the small patio at the the rapidly increasing population that worked blood of Bedminster, but by this time it had rear, we made use of them because it was in the tanneries and mines. In 1883 there were been turned into a cess pool, polluted by the cooler outside. 93 houses and five pubs in the street; today closely packed houses, tanneries and heavy We leave this pub and head along the cut there are just five houses and one pub: the metals of Victorian industry. This tobacco (that was dug in 1804 by navvies to keep Apple Tree. No real ales here, this is a cider factory was a major local employer until 1988, Bristolians out of Bedminster) where the often house with the likes of Taunton Traditional on when it closed and Asda converted part of the smelly, grey mud banks are covered by the draught. Not being cider drinkers ourselves we buildings to a supermarket. Our next stop is in tide. There are about 15 ducks having fun had to rely on the characters outside for the pedestrianised area of East Street, which splashing across the water, which I guess is an testimony to its quality. This pub used to be during the day is a busy shopping centre, but indicator that the water quality is improving. called the Maltster’s Arms and was probably at this time of evening it’s quiet and the shop Turning into Bedminster Parade, the Rope named after the large Malt House around the fronts are all shuttered. Walk is a large Young’s pub serving Young’s corner (part of which is now Fiddlers Night We pass the General Elliot pub that has Bitter, Special and Waggle Dance. The Club). Windmill Hill City Farm is a few yards

Rope Walk Appple Tree General Elliot

10 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST hoped, so we nipped into the Robert 1,000 feet – the sound of pit head engines long Fitzharding where the guest ales were Rev gone and now replaced by skateboarders James from Brain’s Cardiff Brewery, and performing on the many ramps and slopes of Summer Sizzler from the Summer Brewery (a the park. Two hundred yards on where the brewery we hadn’t heard of before). We road makes a dogleg turn, is the Holy Cross & debated doing North Street, but thought that Southville Social Club, which allows free might prove too big to complete tonight, and entry to CAMRA members. This large club is probably contained enough pubs to form a packed, with skittle teams playing on the tour of its own. alleys, and performers and their supporters gathering for the “Talent Night”. The Courage Best had just run out, the Bass was OK, but the Otter Ale was excellent and possibly the best pint of Otter we have ever had. This is another favourite venue of ours, for the friendly staff, parties and celebrations we have attended in these large function rooms over the years. Globe been boarded up since April, and finally reach the Globe with its decorative Victorian frontage. The Courage Best is OK and there is a script on the wall inside that claims in 1847 the landlord used to hold Magistrates Courts Tap & Barrel here, so in July when the new “ban on street drinking” comes into effect for the East Street/ We remembered the Tap & Barrel should Bedminster Parade area, he may need to start have reopened by now (following a refit over holding them again! the last couple of months), so leaving by the It’s hard to imagine, but in the 1800’s East back entrance we wander around the corner Street was lined with slag heaps from the into Dean Lane to find out. We pass the many mines surrounding it. alleyway that 15 years ago was the entrance to Hardington’s Brewery (until it went out of Coronation business), and avoid the temptation to pop into the award-winning Magnet fish bar, From here it is a short distance to the opposite Bristol South swimming baths, and Coronation, a Hop Back Brewery-owned stroll through the doors of the Tap & Barrel. pub, and strangely, one we have never been in Inside this large corner pub it looked like the before, although it is highly recommended by refit wasn’t quite finished, but there were a many local CAMRA members. The décor few people drinking at the square bar in the inside gives this pub a light, airy and relaxed centre of the room, and no sign of any real ales. atmosphere, but Monday night is quiz night, The new landlord said he hopes to have some and it was packed to the doors, with many cask ales in several weeks’ time, once he has people stood outside to catch some cool the equipment in place. He told us the locals breeze on this hot night. A good range of beers said it used to sell real ales, and he would like from this Salisbury-based brewer was on offer, to sell a few as trade picks up. We tell him that so we opted for Crop Circle and the heavier Bell Inn when it was first converted from the Clarence Odyssey. Both were very good and there was Hotel, about 25 years ago, it was packed solid also the famous Summer Lightning along with The Bell was closed on this Monday nearly every night, because we spent many of GFB beer, with Janet’s Jungle Juice for the night, as was the new casino in the old Lloyds our courting evenings here. We wish him luck, cider drinkers. This is a pub we shall definitely Bank building next door, but they don’t have a and promise to return in a few weeks to see if visit again. drinks licence. Cameron Balloons is just behind he has any real ales installed in this Scottish With 30-minutes’ drinking time left, we here giving new life to the old ES & A Courage-owned pub. feel there is time to visit the Imp (previously Robinson paper bag factory. We continue along Dean Lane past the the Southville) and set off along Southville We had reached the end of East Street! Dame Emily playground that now covers the Street. This area of Southville seems very quiet It was still quite early, and we felt that site of Bedminster’s largest coalmine – the (continued overleaf) East Street was not as challenging as we had Dean Lane Colliery that had a shaft of over

Robert Fitzharding Holy Cross & Southville Social Club Imp

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 11 ...... PINTS WEST ...... (continued from previous page) landlord expected to have Courage Best and Greene King IPA on in about a week’s time. and tranquil after walking along the busy We also made it to the Mayor’s Arms; it streets of Bedminster. The Imp is a large- was Cyril’s night off (retired cellarman from roomed pub and had a drinkable Courage Best the Plume of Feathers, Hotwells) so Rob to offer. showed us around this deceptively large, Heading along Southville Place and across newly decorated pub while we had a couple of Asda car park we fleetingly entertain the idea pints of Titanic. of crossing Bedminster Bridge and going in the He showed us the beer list for the festival Mayor’s Arms, which has recently reopened with over 20 ales, so we shall definitely be as a real ale pub. We’ve already had a few, so Mayor’s Arms making several visits that weekend! decide to save it for another day (incidentally – The large rooms offer great opportunities there is a beer festival over the August Bank Postscript to hire for parties, and combined with the Holiday to mark the official opening of this The Bell was open again on the Tuesday ability to serve those who like a real pint, this pub). We jump on the number 52 bus opposite night but it didn’t have any real ales anyway. pub’s future is looking up, and well worth Asda and hope we’ll be fit enough for tomor- When we revisited the Tap & Barrel on keeping an eye on. row night, when we have a Good Beer Guide July 22nd there were still no real ales, but the Colin & Pennie Postlethwaite survey trip over the Mendips. Smiles leaves the Prices for halves A BIT of a personal gripe of mine is the now common practice of Highbury Vaults charging more relatively for a half a pint than for a pint. I will (reluc- WEDNESDAY 13th July saw the end of an era at the Highbury Vaults tantly) accept that if a beer is £2.25 for a pint then I will be charged on St Michael’s Hill when the last Smiles beers were sold. £1.15 for a half “due to rounding”. What I find hard to accept is what Although it ceased to be owned by the brewery a few years ago happened a few months ago in a recently refurbished pub in Bristol. when Young’s bought most of the Smiles estate, Best, Heritage and, Initially I ordered a pint of Banks’s Bitter and was charged £2.40. On occasionally, Bristol IPA continued to be available and indeed many my next trip to the bar I was armed with £1.20 for a half, to be told that customers thought that it was still a Smiles pub with the Young’s being it would cost £1.30, more than an 8% premium. guest beers. With the passing of Smiles, Bradd will now have the chance Whilst pubs can legally do this if their price list shows the rates for to stock two guest ales from a list provided by Young’s. The first two both pints and halves, this pub didn’t even have a price list to back them were St. Austell’s Tribute and Everard’s Tiger, which was then replaced up, so I declined the half pint, left and contacted Bristol City Council with the newly elected Champion Beer of Britain, Brewer’s Gold from Trading Standards. (Details of how to contact your local Trading Crouch Vale. Standards department on this or any other matter can be found at the Pete Tanner back of this issue of Pints West.) Pete Tanner

12 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Cornish Cream at the Star

AT last it was Friday: we had finished work thirstily antici- for the start of our holidays, and the twins had pate our first finished school and were looking forward to pint. making our life hell for the next six weeks! We are not We needed to do something special to disappointed. mark the start of our holidays. The Bristol Being a Cornish Harbour Regatta was starting tonight but the Beer Festival, the waterfront bars have a limited choice of real pub is adorned ales. However, we had been emailed about a with the black and weekend of Cornish Ales at the Star in Bath – white crossed that sounded interesting. flags of Cornwall As we were off to Kusadasi on Monday, and £3.50 will get we thought we had better fill up on real ale you a pint and a now, because there wouldn’t be much in pasty. We order Turkey. Last week the Kurds bombed two pints of Kusadasi, yesterday suicide bombers had Heligan Honey failed to blow up London, tonight Parkway from Skinner’s Station is closed due to a terror alert. The train which lubricates from Bristol only takes 15 minutes to reach our dry throats, Bath, so with the twins packed off to and a couple of Cineworld with their school friends, and the Cornish pasties of teenagers lined up for a spot of child minding, course. we headed for Temple Meads station. The Star is a very friendly pub, and one of a Cornish tin mine, although with the There were a few delays with the trains, family quickly makes room for us at their amount of beer being sunk there may well be a but we made Bath by 7:30pm and set off on table. The Cornish pasties are hot and taste few dead canaries at the bottom of the cage the 20-minute walk to the Star through the great. This is effectively the brewery tap for come morning. This is an excellent pub: we had main shopping area and past the Roman Baths. Abbey Ales and is full of character with the a great night out, all the beers were good, and it The pubs are starting to fill up as we walk unspoilt interior of dark wood panelling that is well worth a visit at any time. past the numerous street musicians and divides the pub into many smaller rooms remaining unchanged since 1928. This pub is deserv- edly on the CAMRA National Inventory of Heritage Pubs. Sharp’s Cornish Coaster (3.6%) has run out and while we wait for their Doom Bar to be put on, I THE STAR INN opt for a pint of St Austell HSD (5.0%) while Pennie sticks with the Heligan Honey (4.0%). A plate of fresh crab pate on crackers is handed round while manager Paul Waters draws off the Doom Bar. There are three pumps dispensing Cornish beers, while the fourth serves Abbey Ales Bellringer. The Doom Bar is dry and bitter after the sweeter HSD and Honey beers, but Paul pulls a Doom Bar Reputedly Bath’s oldest inn steeped in tastes good. Paul hands tradition and renowned the world over. round another plate of Postscript: Described by The Campaign for Real Ale as a rare Cornish fayre – this time Regrettably the Star ran out of Cornish and unspoiled pub interior of outstanding historic some type of currant Bun – beer and pasties later on Saturday – so much interest and listed on the and we switch back to the was the success of this festival. I’m jealous of National Inventory of Heritage Pubs. Heligan Honey for a last those that got to try the Spingo Middle on pint (the Spingo Middle Saturday though, as I hear it was very good. Serving traditional English ales including: was next up but it wasn’t Paul had got eight barrels of Cornish ale in Bellringer brewed in Bath going to appear tonight) for Thursday’s start, and in hindsight it seems and Burton’s favourite brew Bass. before catching the train he could easily have sold sixteen over the four 23 THE VINEYARDS, PARAGON, BATH Tel 01225 425072 home to Bristol. days. With the growing popularity of this The air is close in this event, even sixteen might not be sufficient for packed pub and one thinks next year. Colin & Pennie Postlethwaite National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 13 ...... PINTS WEST ......

Bob’s relaxed and helpful attitude made Bob Todd R.I.P. me feel like a regular. But there was much more to Bob than IT was with great sadness that we learned friend of Bob’s, he always greeted me as if the genial and affable host. In the Star of the tragic death on August 6th of Bob I was. Never surly, never overly effusive, and the Bridge, he had two very different Todd, the landlord of the Star in Puckle- Bob had a rare kind of easy charm about pubs, but his understanding of the church and also of the Bridge Inn at him. First time visitors to his pubs found customers’ needs shone through in both Shortwood. themselves feeling instantly at home. of them. Both pubs have become favour- I have been a semi-regular visitor to Sometimes, when I visited during the ite haunts for real ale and cider connois- the Star and the Bridge since I moved to afternoon, Bob would be sat with some seurs, who know that they can rely on the Emersons Green in 1998. Although I regulars, watching the horse racing on the quality and condition of their favourite cannot claim to have been a personal telly. He always paused to say hello, and tipple. The Bass brought up from the showed remarkable restraint when his cellar in the Star is divine, and you won’t horse trailed in last. A few times, I was get a better drop of Cheddar Valley there when he won. He was always anywhere. The Star built a reputation for The Kings Arms gracious, but his beaming smile was offering good quality, good value food, 34 Little Paul St, High Kingsdown, Bristol infectious, and you couldn’t help sharing while the Bridge’s suntrap garden with his delight. children’s play area was an instant hit. Live Music / Disco / Karaoke A self-confident man and gifted But running two great pubs – and Every Other Saturday raconteur, Bob would often have regulars, charming every customer he met – wasn’t ☺ staff and strangers alike chuckling at one enough for Bob. He became a central Pool Table ~ Darts of his stories or jokes. You could tell that figure in Pucklechurch village life. He was the staff regarded him with genuine a key figure in the annual Pucklechurch 3 Real Ales (currently Bath Ales Gem, warmth and affection, and it was easy to Revel, contributing a delightful beer Sharp’s Doom Bar & Bass) see why. Some months ago, I went into festival every year, and never seemed to Patio Area the Bridge for a quick pint, but upon stop organising, promoting and cajoling in getting to the bar I realised I had left my support of one charity or another. Quiz Night Monday 9pm wallet at home. I apologised to the lady We should like to offer our deepest ☺ behind the bar, saying I’d forgotten my sympathies to Diane and family at this Full Lunchtime & Sunday Roast Menu wallet, and didn’t have enough change for very difficult time. At the time of writing, (25% Off Senior Citizens) a pint, but before I could turn around to both pubs are closed until further notice. leave, Bob had appeared. “That’s OK, Open from 12.00 Noon All Day Every Day But as and when they reopen, I’ll be back, Lunch served 12.00 - 2.00 pm you come in quite often, give us what and I’ll raise a pint to a charming, kind and Sunday Roast 12.00 - 3.00 pm change you’ve got and pay the rest next funny man. Tel. 01179 499994 time you’re in”. I was only 30p short, but Cheers Bob! Duncan Shine

To sample perfectly kept Butcombe Bitter and Butcombe Gold, plus numerous Guest Beers, why not visit a Butcombe Pub… THE RED TILE THE OLD CROWN Cossington, near Bridgwater Kelston, near Bath 01278 722333 01225 423032 RING O’BELLS THE SWAN Compton Martin Rowberrow (A368 between Blagdon & (off A38 south of Churchill) West Harptree) 01761 221284 01934 852371 THE PRINCE OF WALES THE BELL Stoke Lane, Westbury-on-Trym Hillgrove St, Bristol 0117 9623715 0117 9096612 THE QUEEN’S ARMS THE LAMB Celtic Way, Bleadon The Square, near Weston-super-Mare Axbridge 01934 812080 01934 732253

GREAT BEER / GREAT FOOD / GREAT WINE / GREAT COMPANY BUTCOMBE BREWERY…01275 472240 www.butcombe.com Mon-Sat 4-11, Sun 12-10.30 PRIDE IN EVERYTHING WE BREW 14 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Champion Beer of Britain: OVERALL WINNERS Champion Beer of Britain: Crouch Vale Brewer’s Gold Gold wins Gold! Second: Grainstore Rutland Panther Third: Woodforde’s Wherry BREWER’S GOLD, brewed by Crouch Vale of Essex, was Category winners: recently judged to be the best beer in Britain by a panel of brewers, beer writers and journalists. MILD CATEGORY The beer is described in the 2005 edition of CAMRA’s Gold: Grainstore Rutland Panther (Rutland) Good Beer Guide thus: “Striking grapefruit nose leads to a beer Silver: Brain’s Dark (Cardiff) of generally citrus hoppy character, underpinned by a per- Bronze: Elgood’s Black Dog (Cambridgeshire) fumed sweetness and an aftertaste of orange wine gums.” BITTER CATEGORY The Essex brewed beer was chosen as the overall winner Gold: Woodforde’s Wherry (Norfolk) from over fifty finalists in eight categories including beers from tiny micros to major regional brewers. Silver: Holden’s Black Country Bitter (West Midlands) Roger Protz, one of the finalist judges and Editor of the Bronze: RCH PG Steam (Somerset) Good Beer Guide said, “Congratulations to Crouch Vale. It is Bronze: Belvoir Star (Leicestershire) great to see a golden ale win this award. Golden ale is a rapidly BEST BITTER CATEGORY growing style of beer and one that will appeal to younger Gold: Harvey’s Sussex Bitter (East Sussex) drinkers and women as well as real ale aficionados. It’s a Silver: Mighty Oak Burntwood Bitter (Essex) wonderfully refreshing beer – the ideal antidote to lager!” Bronze: Timothy Taylor Landlord (Yorkshire) Olly Graham, General Manager of Crouch Vale said, “We have been in the final of the this competition for a few years Bronze: Olde Swan Entire (West Midlands) now, but to have gone one step further this year and be voted GOLDEN ALES CATEGORY the best beer in Britain makes me very proud. I would like to Gold: Crouch Vale Brewer’s Gold (Essex) thank everybody at the brewery for all of their hard work. They Silver: Jarrow Rivet Catcher (Tyne and Wear) have all played their part in making Brewer’s Gold the best beer Bronze: Oakham JHB (Cambridgeshire) in the land.” The Silver award went to Rutland Panther from Grainstore, STRONG ALE CATEGORY and the Bronze to Woodforde’s Wherry from Norfolk. Gold: Hanby Nutcracker (Shropshire) Silver: Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch (Cardiff) Bronze: Fuller’s ESB (London) THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE SPECIALITY CATEGORY Gold: Cairngorm Tradewinds (Inverness-shire) CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN 2003 Silver: Young’s Waggledance (London) GOLD MEDAL WINNER Bronze: Daleside Morrocco (North Yorkshire) STRONG BITTER CATEGORY. Bronze: Ridley’s Rumpus (Essex) REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE CATEGORY Gold: Durham Evensong (Durham) Silver: Young’s Special London Ale (London) Bronze: Titanic Stout (Staffordshire) All change at the Hobgoblin RECENTLY we have had Irish and English and since June we have had an Australian. Control of the Hobgoblin in Bath has now moved to Darren Register who has cleaned the place up a bit and started introducing local art into the main bar. The downstairs bar is now called the crypt and has hosted a couple of photographic exhibitions. The five hand pumps are still in use with two now reserved for Wychwood Hobgoblin and a seasonal beer. The other three pumps currently have offerings from Brakspear, Fuller’s and Bath Ales. Darren thinks that, in the future, he will probably rotate the ales offered on these pumps but not for the moment. On the entertainment front there is still the jukebox but three nights a week live DJs have been introduced from two of the local ADNAMS BROADSIDE. BEER FROM THE COAST. night clubs. Phill the Pint National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 15 ...... PINTS WEST Pints Weston ...... Watering Holes in the Desert

news from Weston-super-Mare

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recognizing their efforts. These include charity pany who own(ed) the pub in recognition of Weston Whispers events for the village school, a piece on a the increase in beer sales that had been (pub and beer news) Hungarian Evening held at the pub and an achieved. This is deserved recognition for the article from The Mendip Messenger with the Boyers who have certainly drastically MY apologies to Celtic Inns and their new headline “Jewel that is The Crown.” The main improved The Ashcombe in their time there. pub, The Ebdon Arms, Wick St. Lawrence, thrust of this article is the great value food. Unfortunately (or may be not) Heritage have for smearing their good name in the last edition The only item on the menu that is over £5 is a been taken over and at the time of writing the of Pints West by saying that they were owned £5.95 mixed grill. On my last visit I had a future real ale situation is an unknown by Coors. It is purely a contractual supply £3.95 steak and chips, which gave my wallet quantity. relationship that they have. some relief after experiencing a more typical Happily the early signs of strong local rural pub price of £5.95 for a cheese plough- In Steve Reed’s “Reed On…” column he support for the real ales at The Ebdon seems man’s the previous day. Next time I will go for urges people to visit Sainsbury’s to give the to have been sustained. On a recent visit no one of their home-made pies with mash and bottled beers from the Rogue Ales beer less than seven beers were available. Aside liquor – Ian betraying his London roots with company of Oregon, USA a try. Whilst there, from Hewish IPA and East Street Cream from that one! I would suggest you also grab anything the local RCH brewery, they also had two available from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Welsh beers – Cwrw Haf from the Tomos Another good rural pub not too far from Company. For quite a long time their superb Watkin brewery and the legendary strong ale, Weston that I have enjoyed a couple of times Pale Ale has been available. Happily this has Son Of A Bitch from the Bullmastiff brewery. recently is the Good Beer Guide-listed been joined by further beers. First was a Both were in excellent condition. They had Burcott Inn, Wookey. At least three ever- wonderful Christmas beer called Celebration been part of a three-beer “Welsh Weekend” changing ales. On my last visit these were Tom Ale, full of fruit and spices and great with the but the third beer, Reverend James from Brains Wood’s Bomber Country, Cotleigh 25 and mince pies & Xmas pud. Then saw a porter, had “flown out almost as soon as it went on,” RCH Pitchfork. All in excellent condition. followed by a stout that was so thick and according to landlord Steve Beasley. creamy I had trouble getting it out of the If you haven’t been out to The Ebdon yet, Closer to home, a recent Weston CAMRA bottle, and most recently a bottom-fermented I suggest you give it a try. All we need to do branch social took in Dauncey’s Hotel on the lager called Summerfest. now is to get First Group to run their buses seafront. The balcony here is possibly the best For those weak on geography, Sierra out to Wick beyond 7 o’clock in the evening! place in Weston to sip a pint on a summer’s Nevada is also in the USA. If, like me, you day or evening. A real ale is always on offer – used to think that the yanks could only brew Another pub on the up-and-up is The Red Stag Bitter from Newman’s on our visit. stuff like Budweiser, Michelob and Rolling Crown, Axbridge. This was taken over by Ian The local press reports that the hotel has Rock, I can assure you that there are a growing and Carolyn at the end of March 2004. The recently changed hands, but the new owners, number of American breweries producing previous owners of this great 15th century free Richard Morris and Andrew Ladd, are marvellous craft beers. Rogue and Sierra house were strong supporters of real ale, promising not to change it much, so hopefully Nevada beers would be a good place for you to securing a place in the Good Beer Guide, so the real ale will be safe. start. there was inevitably some concern when the pub changed hands. Happily, The Crown On the same social, we were also delighted Finally, I know I am not alone in thinking appears to be going from strength to strength by the range and quality of the beers at the that nowadays there is a dearth of landlords under Ian and Carolyn. Wadworth-owned Major From Glengarry who could be described as great personalities Beer-wise, they have two Sharp’s beers as and The Raglan. The latter featured Black or characters. Someone who is unarguably a regular offerings and a guest beer, usually from Prince from the St. Austell brewery – a rare character is Di Bradley, who runs The Night a micro brewery. Ian reports that real ale sales sighting of a mild in Weston. It sold very well I Jar on the Mead Vale estate in Weston. She have been growing so much that he is exploring am assured. has been featured on more than one occasion in the feasibility of installing a fourth beer. the local press recently for her many and They have quickly tried to make the pub More good ale sales, this time at The varied attempts to get people in and make sure the focal point of the village and there is a Ashcombe where Pete and June Boyer won a the pub stays at the heart of the community. growing wall display of press cuttings holiday paid for by the Heritage Pub Com- First came a piece publicizing the monthly religious services that are held at The Night Jar. A further article followed advertising a “All we need to do now is to get Christmas party at The Night Jar – in July! First Group to run their buses The basic gist of this was that Di feels that landlords don’t get to enjoy Christmas because beyond 7 o’clock in the evening.” it is such a busy time, so she now holds a In the meantime just keep Christmas party in the summer so that she can have a good time. “Crackers landlady hosts crawling. Xmas party” ran the headline in the Mercury. Another of Di’s interests is Laurel and Hardy and there is a growing display of L&H figurines behind the bar. The Nightjar is owned by the Badger brewery and two of their beers are normally available – Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot on my last visit. Tim Nickolls

16 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... Pints Weston ...... PINTS WEST A Round with Robin DESPITE the extremes of weather this Best Bitter, although I did have a pint of summer I have got out and about sampling Hopback Summer Lightning just once for a some of the ales to be had at beer festivals and change! pubs. Just about the time when the last edition of Pints West hit the streets, I took myself On the last Saturday in July, a rather down to the Bridge Inn at Topsham, where I cloudy and drizzly day, some six of us from spent an hour in the old bar and the rest of the branch went to Stroud in Gloucestershire lunchtime outside by the river. They had their by train, for a walk to pubs in Slad and usual good choice of beers – all served from the Woodchester. Although others may refer to barrel, the best being Hidden Fantasy and this event (see Tim Nickolls’ article), I’d like Exmoor 21st Ale. to note that two of the pubs we visited, The Woolpack in Slad, and The Queen Victoria The first mention of railways and beers in Stroud, were both what one would expect makes a few members of the Weston sub- from Good Beer Guide pubs. There was a branch sit up and take notice, and so it was good atmosphere and the selection of beers that on June 11th Paul, Graham, Mike and I was wonderful. My favourite in Slad’s from Weston-super-Mare took the train to Entertainment at the Canal Inn Woolpack (Laurie Lee’s local) was the Uley Keynsham and walked the mile and a bit along Laurie Lee Bitter, which was very hoppy and the River Avon to Bitton Station for the Avon sale and yours truly bought one. fragrantly so. The Weston’s draught perry was Valley Railway’s 2nd Beer Festival. But what about the ales, I hear you say. also worth a try and the whole range of Uley Twenty-five beers and some ciders were Yes, a good selection, and though I tended to beers were available on hand pump. A myriad on sale at £2 a pint and thirteen breweries were stick with the UK beers it was difficult to pick of interesting things were displayed, including represented, including the Box Steam Brewery a favourite as all were in very good condition: an early radio, old Laurie Lee photos and and the new Cotswold Spring Brewery, which twelve breweries with only St. Austell ales prints, a selection of dusty bottled beers going had a Mystery Ale on offer. The good (Admiral’s Ale and Black Prince) having more back to at least the 1953 Coronation, and, programme was supplemented by three beers than one showcased. From notes made at the bizarrely, a pommel horse. from Archers which proved to be in excellent time I see that Bath Ales Wild Hare, Kelham condition, and despite the RCH PG Steam & Island Easy Rider, and Blindmans Buff were the Breconshire Red Dragon vying for all highly regarded. supremacy, the Archers Crystal Clear (5%), Half way through the afternoon I led my Summer Ale (3.5%) and Six Hop (4.2%) were two companions up to the top of Crimson Hill in my opinion the best ales there. In fact the for one of the best views in Somerset, passing Summer Ale was a good example of how a low many WW2 pillboxes and anti-tank blocks, gravity ale can have as much a complex flavour and the mouth of the now disused Chard Canal as has a full bodied strong beer. tunnel that the pub takes its name from. On our return we set to sampling those ales that On the 28th of June I went down to we had not had earlier. I was told that the Portsmouth for the huge fleet review in the Belgian beers were very good, and that it is Solent, and took the opportunity there of most unusual to find some of these on draught having a selection of George Gale beers in three in the UK. different pubs. Though not one of my favourite brews, I do try to sample local With the Chalice Morris Men this summer breweries’ beers when away from home, and in I was fortunate enough to go on a day tour Portsmouth and Southsea I had to pass a lot of around the Dunster, Minehead and Porlock pubs to find the Gales ales. area sampling the beers (and dancing outside) The Canal Inn at Wrantage (six miles excellent pubs, the two best ones being The south-east of Taunton), the Somerset Star at Watchet and the Ship Inn at Porlock CAMRA Pub of the Year, was the setting for Weir. At the latter the celebration Exmoor a laid back beer festival (their second too) on Silver Stallion was on great form, and per- the 9th of July. Mike, Graham and I from suaded me that I liked it more than I had A good atmosphere at the Woolpack Weston-super-Mare made our way by train previously thought when trying it at the and bus and a short but hot uphill walk to Dragon Inn at Weston-super-Mare. In the Queen Victoria the five real ales and Wrantage, where we found to our delight a draught Black Rat cider were almost as good a selection of fourteen beers from the UK and Also, staying with Morris dancing, I went selection as you could wish for. Although I did two ciders all on draught, and thirteen Belgian for a weekend based near the Long Man of sample two other ales there, I had my favour- beers, some on draught and others bottled. Wilmington in East Sussex. On the Saturday ite beer of the day, which was the Dark Star’s Food is much recommended here by the Good afternoon we had the luck to visit the Sunburst. We also walked to The Ram in Beer Guide, (one of the owners is Spanish) and Harvey’s brewery in Lewes where the Best South Woodchester and The Royal Oak in so we were a little disappointed by the food Bitter and Armada beers were available free, North Woodchester. Despite the rain the being limited to pig roast or a selection of rolls. straight from the barrel! As the Best Bitter is walk was worth it for the views and interesting However the beers well made up for that one of my favourite beers I quaffed a few pints buildings both in Woodchester and on the way and the afternoon entertainment was provided of this. When in Lewes, in Cliffe High Street, there. Both pubs keep real ale, and both have by Bryher and Heather Simmons who regaled it’s worth a visit to the Harvey’s shop as all been in the Good Beer Guide in recent years. us with a selection of summery songs as their bottled ales are available, as well as poly- We really could have done with more time as diverse as Summertime, Roll Over Beethoven, pins of bright beer and other merchandise. All we passed some likely ale houses worth a and a Red Hot Chilli Peppers number. the great pubs we visited in Alfriston, and visit, in and on the outskirts of Stroud, but Bryher’s CD of her own compositions was on elsewhere in East Sussex, all sold the Harvey’s then that is true of almost anywhere, isn’t it? Robin E Wild National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 17 ...... PINTS WEST Pints Weston ...... A day out in Stroud FOLLOWING a successful “Walking and Drinking” day last summer, no Smiles (possibly due to the Smiles turmoil of recent months) but it when the branch visited Topsham and Exeter, we decided to do some- had five excellent ales and a real cider. The beers were Fortitude from the thing similar this year. After considering several options we decided on a St. George’s brewery, Worcester, Golden Valley from the Breconshire visit to Stroud. The benefits of Stroud are that the town is nestled in a brewery (Welsh CAMRA Champion Beer of the Year), Hophead and particularly attractive part of the Cotswolds, with some great pubs in Sunburst from the great Dark Star brewery based in West Sussex, and and around it. The down side is that despite its relatively close proxim- Otter Bright from Honiton, Devon. All the beers were tried and all were ity to Weston (about 40 miles), it is rather torturous getting there by in top-notch condition – the Sunburst, Golden Valley and Fortitude public transport. We went by train via Swindon and returned changing at being particularly noteworthy beers. Not surprisingly this large, one- Gloucester and Bristol – both journeys took over two hours. room pub was busy with people recovering from (or avoiding) Saturday afternoon shopping. Some people were watching rugby on a large screen, We left Weston at 10.30 and arrived in Stroud just after 12.30. We others watching horse-racing on a smaller one, others idling their time headed out of town on the Slad Road, arriving at the Good Beer Guide- away reading or chatting. We could have stayed a lot longer than time listed Woolpack at around 1.15. This is an excellent, 16th century inn permitted. situated in a great location overlooking the Slad Valley. Upon entering I thought that the pub had perhaps been converted to a cider house, as the We headed out of Stroud in a south-westerly direction along the three pump clips all offered real ciders and a perry. However, slipping Bath Road to Woodchester. First stop was The Ram. Unfortunately, it into the second bar provided the reassuring site of four ales from the started raining again when we arrived, so we could not enjoy the local Uley brewery – Uley Bitter, Laurie Lee’s Bitter, Pig’s Ear and Old splendid views from the pub garden. However, the beers inside cheered Spot. The great selection of drinks, accompanied by a mouth-watering us up. Six on offer – Archers Village and Golden, Uley Old Spot, menu, provided us with a very satisfactory couple of hours – our Wickwar BOB, Butcombe Bitter and Otter Bitter. We had noted that planned departure time was extended due to a heavy shower, but what a this once perennial Good Beer Guide entry was not featured in the 2005 place to be marooned! The only slightly sour moment occurred when edition, but we certainly had no complaints about the beer quality. my wife asked if they did coffee. “We don’t do hot drinks – we’re a traditional pub,” was the rather curt and unnecessary reply. “I suppose pubs have traditionally offered their customers stuffed Portobello mushrooms and langoustine prawns,” my wife muttered on her return to our table.

We retraced out steps, heading back into Stroud town centre. We stopped off at The Queen Victoria on Gloucester Street. The 2005 Good Beer Guide entry for this pub rather undersells it beer-wise, merely stating that it has Smiles Best and guest beers. In fact there was

Greetings from the Royal Oak

A 10-minute stroll took us to The Royal Oak Inn. As with all the village pubs visited on the day, this one dates back to the 16th century. The beers here were Adnam’s Broadside, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Greene King IPA. The beer quality was okay and they were served in lined Holdsworth is a family company that has been glasses, thereby ensuring that the customer gets the amount of beer that supplying Caterers with frozen, chilled & ambient foods he or she has paid for. However, it was disappointing to see that the for over 35 years. pub is happy to clobber people who prefer to drink halves instead of pints, by charging them significantly more than half the price of a pint. Regular readers of Pints West may know that the issue of “over- charging” for halves is something that regular contributors Vince Murray and Pete Tanner feel very strongly about. Usually, it is 10p that is For more information on our products, services involved, e.g. £2.20 for a pint, £1.15 for a half (or £2.30 for two halves). & available delivery days to your area At the Royal Oak, this policy was applied to two of the beers. For the please telephone:- third, the Greene King IPA, it was a whopping 15p differential – £2.35 for a pint, £1.25 for a half! We had visions of Vince and Pete having to 01604 581 411 be peeled off the ceiling with steam coming out of their ears if they encountered this particular piece of product pricing.

Sadly, this was all we had time for and had to forego the delights of Holdsworth, James Acre Ind. Estate, Hinton on the Green, Evesham, Worcs. WR11 6QL numerous other appealing pubs in the Stroud area. However, a good day e-mail: [email protected] web: www.holdsworth-foods.co.uk was had by all. We walked about eight miles and sampled some excellent beers. A day out in this area is highly recommended. Tim Nickolls 18 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... Pints Weston ...... PINTS WEST

Reed writes ... knowledge) in the old and much lamented Safeway stores and at a minimum price of £2.99. Who remembers the wonderful ... on ‘Rogues’ example their Imperial Stout was on offer “Dead Guy Ale”? Hopefully at least some at 79p (though in a smaller than usual of the beers I’ve mentioned are still Don’t know if anyone has tried the bottle). A strong and rich stout, unfiltered available by the time you read this. specialist bottled beers on sale at and full of body. Hmmm, nice! Also, Sainsbury’s supermarket in the last couple Mocha Porter at £1.99 is chocolaty tasting of months, but if not you may be forgiven and ruddy brown in colour, a bittersweet for missing some fantastic bargains in balance of malt and hops with a light ... on Newman’s certain stores. Having taken over from cream finish. Lovely. Safeway as the “fireside ale drinker’s My personal favourite is Rogue Brewery bestest friend”, many of Sainsbury’s Smoke, a German style Rauchbier (“smoke Works are progressing steadily at the largest local outlets seemed to be hiding beer”), apparently inspired by the fall of new brewery site (Yatton). The first floor some hidden gems from the discerning the Berlin Wall. Most rauch brews are has now been strengthened by steels and bottled beer fraternity. Often displayed bottom-fermented, however Rogue Smoke, the gas and electricity supplies should be away from the pack, and in some in- is top-fermented. It is orange-amber in hue installed by the time you read this news- stances even near the soft drinks, a with a delicate smoke aroma and flavour letter. Commissioning of the equipment is fantastic selection of Rogue Ales from with an intense hop finish. This beer is anticipated in October. Westonians keep Oregon, USA have been sitting quietly, absolute nectar and at the beginning of your ears to the ground... begging for attention. August was being sold for an incredible Always distinguishable by the clever 99p a bottle. Younger’s Special Bitter (no “glass-painted” style of label, in a 650cl relation to the UK Younger) also £1.99 is a ... on smoking bottle, the range on offer this summer classic rich and flavoursome English convinced me that this brewery offers Special Bitter full of caramel and malt perhaps the best and most diverse flavours, fruity and hoppy in aroma. It has in pubs portfolio of beers currently available in a been described as one of the “top five Decided to hold on this one for the bottle. What’s more, because no one ales brewed in the US”. I loved this as a time being. Plenty of coverage in previous seems to know they’re on sale, they aren’t summer beer. Other than at the Great issues probably sufficient for now, but selling and subsequently Sainsbury’s has British Beer Festival, Rogue Ales have hey, try a Rogue Smoke whichever side of gradually been reducing them. For only previously been available (to my the fence you’re on! Steve Reed Weston Diary Saturday 17 September – Somerset Beer Festival, Minehead Railway Station. A party will be going from Weston. Please contact Mike Coleman on 01934 631441 if you wish to join us (and hopefully take advantage of group travel rates for the return journey to Taunton).

Wednesday 28 September – Bristol & District Branch Meeting, The Ebdon Arms. 8.00 start. Bus route 7 from town stops in Ebdon Road, then it is approx 15-minute walk along Ebdon Road. Venue TBC, so confirm first with Tim Nickolls on number below if planning to attend. This will be an excellent opportunity to find out what local Camra branches get up to, so please come along.

Wednesday 19 October – The Raglan. 8.30 onwards.

Friday 4 November – Minibus outing, visiting 5 or 6 current or potential Good Beer Guide village pubs. Cost £5 – Book via Mike Coleman on 01934 631441. Bus will leave Off The Rails at 7.15.

Wednesday 16 November – Crawl of Kingsdown area of Bristol city center. Catch 1835 route 353 bus from Weston, stops at Homebase, Worle at 1845. We will be visiting The Hare On The Hill, Hillgrove Porter Stores, The Bell, Highbury Vaults and Zerodegrees. Non-members welcome at all of the above events. Contact Tim Nickolls - 01934 628996 (evenings) or email [email protected]

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 19 ...... PINTS WEST Pints Weston ...... The Rise of The Raglan THERE are a large number of pubs in Weston that, if you meet people of a certain age, they will fondly reminisce about how good they used to be. In most cases the fortunes of the pubs slumped at some point and never recovered, often ending up closed, ruined, taken over or struggling along with a dwindling band of customers. The Raglan is a good case in point. During my first five years in Weston (1998 to 2003) I only visited it twice. On both occasions the beer and ambience were dull, with customers practically non- existent. Sometime around the middle of 2003 steel shutters were put over the doors and windows and it seemed odds- on that it would end up being converted to flats. However, a rare good news story began to unfold.....

Gary Havard re-opened The Raglan on New Year’s Day 2004. He had no previous experience of running a pub. He felt that there was a dearth of traditional pubs in Weston and his ambition was to create the kind of pub that he regularly heard the locals reminiscing about. He was very Six of the best at the Raglan clear that he didn’t want to attract the “lager lout” type of clientele and quickly variety of other instruments. issue for Gary, dealing direct can make a took the view that focusing on real ale Encouraged by the early interest being lot of difference. was the way that he wanted to go. shown, Gary increased the number of ales The breweries regularly featured at He began with just Bass, then added on offer, usually from local breweries. In The Raglan include Butcombe, Newman’s, the local Wolver’s Ale from his friend the early days polypins (beer boxes) were RCH and Bath Ales, and in recent times Tom Newman’s brewery based in Banwell. used, which occasionally meant problems St. Austell beers have been introduced Gary was pleased that the real ales seemed with beer temperature. There were also and been very popular. A typical week will to attract, in his words, “an interesting some people who felt that striving to offer see seven to nine casks being sold, with range of people… the right type of a lot of beers was meaning that quality this increasing to twelve or thirteen when people.” These included a range of was being sacrificed. Those days are now there is a busy weekend. musicians who began to congregate on a long gone. The polypins have disap- Gary still has many ambitions for the Friday evening with their guitars, harmoni- peared and Gary phases his beers across pub and his number two, Jo, has recently cas, mandolins, accordions, fiddles and a the week to match demand. Early in the been playing a greater role in the running week you may only of the pub to enable Gary to get on with find one or two his transformation plans. A major refur- beers on, with this bishment of the lounge bar is almost figure increasing to complete. This has included the installa- anything from four tion of a piano (all that’s needed now is to six around the the installation of a pianist – enquiries to weekend. Gary). Gary would like to convert the Gary doesn’t basement into a dedicated music room, deal with wholesal- but this is one for the future. ers for his ales, only The Friday night musicians are still dealing direct with there and make for a great evening, RCH Brewery the breweries. One particularly on cold winter evenings with reason for this is the fire blazing away. West Hewish that, according to An attraction for some time has been Nr Weston-super-Mare Gary, you can pay the fact that all real ales are sold for £2, Tel: 01934-834447 as much as £30 a regardless of strength. Gary is keen to cask extra from sustain this and has swallowed two duty Brewers of award-wining beers including going through a increases to keep the price pegged down. P.G. Steam wholesaler, as However, for this to be sustained he Pitchfork opposed to dealing needs more people using the pub. If you East Street Cream direct. Given that live in Weston, like your ale and haven’t Firebox keeping prices given the new-look Raglan a try, get on down has always down and give it a try. You are unlikely to Guest Beers and Beer Festivals catered for been an important be disappointed. Tim Nickolls 20 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Greene King takes over and closes yet another brewery BURY St. Edmunds based brewer Greene King Champion Beer of Britain Award in 2004 for announced in July that it has taken over Pale Rider. Ridley’s of Chelmsford for £46m (including It’s surprising that GK are rushing to £8.8m debt). Greene King says it intends to transfer production to their Bury St. Edmunds close the brewery in the autumn, with some brewery as they have been saying production beer brands transferred to Bury St. Edmunds. there is almost at capacity. Ridley’s has been family-owned since Locally CAMRA is particularly concerned 1842. The deal includes 73 pubs across Essex, about the loss of the popular Greene King XX Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Dark Mild. GK decided it could not make it Nationally CAMRA is calling for a economically any more in 2003 and contracted Competition Commission investigation as this it out to Ridley’s, who had recently stopped deal threatens consumer choice as Greene making their own Mild in favour of recreating King’s dominance in the East of England Tolly Mild. grows. What will happen to popular beers such as This acquisition appears to be GK’s Greene King XX Mild, Tolly Original and the response to rival brewery Wolverhampton & top Ridley’s beer, Old Bob? Greene King has brewery. Dudley’s takeover of Jenning’s in June. A new already announced it will cease brewing CAMRA has criticised comments from generation of national brewers has been created Ridley’s IPA as it clashes with its own award- Ridley’s Managing Director, Bob Wales, who and is a threat to consumer choice. Takeovers winning IPA. Initial plans are to brew at least was appointed in April 2005. Following his rarely lead to benefits for consumers and four Ridley’s brands on a rotational basis. appointment, Mr. Wales said, “The Board and invariably lead to erosion of consumer choice, Surprisingly, GK says it will resume I are delighted with this announcement and breweries closing and beers being axed. brewing XX Dark Mild, as volumes have risen look forward to the Ridley’s business growing Greene King and W&D would have been since GK acquired many Laurel pubs around and developing. Ridley’s is a good business defined as national brewers (ones with more Christmas 2004. We hope they will be as good with some excellent and dedicated people at than 2,000 pubs) under the 1989 Beer Orders as their word. the Hartford End Brewery site...” CAMRA legislation, which was revoked in 2002. That Greene King closed Rayment’s brewery at wonders what has changed in a couple of legislation forced national brewers to allow Furneux Pelham in 1987, Biggleswade in 1997 months? their pub tenants a guest beer from a supplier and Morland’s in 2000. Now it’s likely to sell Apparently a Ridley’s spokesman blamed of their choice. Greene King’s guest beer Ridley’s remarkable Victorian brewery site for “the national decline in cask sales” – that old offering is to permit those tenants who choose housing development, rather than at least chestnut, based on inaccurate statistics and to pay top whack in rent to then choose from attempt to sell it to someone as a going including the poorly-supported beers from the GK’s list of approved non-GK beers. concern. international breweries. CAMRA believes that demand exists for In a letter to Ridley’s Free Trade custom- breweries which specialise in short-run craft About Ridley’s ers, Greene King explained that Ridley’s beers, following renewed consumer interest in The 163-year-old family brewery is at approached GK about a possible takeover, local products. Ridley’s has been brewing Hartford end, near Chelmsford. assuming closure of the brewery due to it being Tolly Original since 2002, brews Greene King Ridley’s acquired and closed the Tolly loss-making. XX Mild under contract and brews Pale Island Cobbold Brewery in Ipswich in 2002, Submitted by Norman Spalding for Kelham Island Brewery, who won the transferring some of the beer brands to its With thanks to Cambridge CAMRA THE BEAR INN The Free House

Wiveliscombe Taunton Somerset TA4 2JY Telephone and fax: BELL (01984) 623537 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, Bristol

Andy and Heather Harvey invite you to sample the A Genuine Freehouse local ales, the home-made food, and a real local pub offering atmosphere. Excellent Local Real Ales We organise specialist ale drinkers’ weekends including visits to Cotleigh and Exmoor breweries, Good Wines, Interesting Lagers with bed and full English breakfast, provided for £20 Opening times per person per night. 4.30 - 11.00 Monday to Saturday Reductions available for group bookings. 7.00 - 10.30 Sunday

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 21 ...... PINTS WEST Island in the Sea ......

By your Nailsea correspondent Island in the sea Laurie Gibney

(maybe called the Butchers Arms Inn?) Lorraine had plans drawn up to build, Boarded up providing bed-and-breakfast accommoda- at her own expense, a three-storey guest On Tuesday 12 July 2005 the Moorend tion, a restaurant and conference facility accommodation block on the existing Spout public house at Kingshill, Nailsea would be most suitable for the location. boules court and toilets for bed and was boarded up. Punch Taverns plc who It would be very sad to loose the breakfast which, together with converting took it over when they acquired the Moorend Spout, which was previously part of the staff accommodation, would Innspired group last year have been asked called the Butchers Arms, and is still have provided eleven rooms for guests by your local CAMRA correspondent known affectionately as “The Butchers” including some suitable for disabled what the future holds for the pub, but no in the locality. The inn is believed to have customers. This was turned down by reply had been received when Pints West been licensed for hundreds of years and North Somerset Council despite being went to press three weeks later. certainly before any other existing li- separated from the main listed buildings Punch Taverns, in the absence of a censed premises in Nailsea. by a glazed walkway. It is understood that licensee, have re-applied for a license a two-storey extension using part of the under new legislation now in force, with If you wish to show your support for private garden and the area previously opening hours until the early hours of the keeping the pub open, contact your local planned may find favour with the plan- morning to provide a late night music councillor for support to prevent a change ners. venue, in an otherwise quiet residential of use to anything other than licensed The pub is a substantial building and area! premises, and to support the provision needs a considerable cash flow to keep it The local newspapers reported maybe of B&B accommodation which is in going, it is not on a main highway and objections by a number of local residents short supply in the town; write to your therefore needs considerable local voicing their concern about loud music local MP because the law needs strength- support, advertising or additional facilities and inconsiderate, unruly customers ening to protect historic hostelries from a to provide an adequate customer base. leaving the premises late at night in the change of use; also contact Punch The provision of B&B accommodation, of past causing disturbance and damage to Taverns plc at Jubilee House, Second which there is inadequate provision in property. A compromise must be reached Avenue Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, Nailsea, appears to be vital to provide an to keep this historic inn open, if it is not to DE14 2WF (tel: 01283 501600, fax 01283 adequate cash flow. join the 25 pubs per month closing across 501601). the country. An up-market licensed inn After about six months Lorraine Lorraine Flower, realised that the costs of operating the the licensee for the pub were more than the business could past 18 months, has bear despite considerable marketing. relinquished her When Innspired sold out to Punch the lease and she held a rent increased to about £34,000 per year final-night party for (£680 per week) plus a turnover rent on all customers on ales and soft drinks, which had to be Sunday evening, bought through the pub company, of 10th July, with a live about 35p per pint! Local Authority band, buffet, and ale business and accommodation rates or at £1.50 per pint. She taxes soaked up another £11,000 per year had the Monday to or £220 per week. clear her personal Punch Taverns also require their possessions out of licensees to sign full repairing leases to the pub, and handed fund repairs including windows, doors, over the keys early roof tiles and guttering as well as internal on the Tuesday repairs on this, a listed building. The rent when it was boarded was clearly unrealistic for a “local pub” up. which was off the beaten track. The pub com- Lorraine bravely took action against prises a bar with the might of the all-domineering pub three indoor sitting company, most of which in the experience Chimera India Pale Ale areas, restaurant, of CAMRA appear to be acting with more upstairs function of an interest in property values than Voted Beer of the Festival Bristol 2005 room, two large pubs. Six months of attempting to get the Silver medal winner at the patios, grassed pub co to see reason came to nothing so Lorraine stopped buying ales and soft Beauty of Hop Competition June 2004 garden with seating and barbecue, and a drinks through the pub co and bought boules court. The them direct from suppliers herself. Even Brewed by the Downton Brewery Co. Ltd. non-public areas with this brave move, which could have include kitchen, ended up with her being evicted, the (tel 01 722 322890) cellar, storage rooms, books would not balance and she was still who also brew Chimera Gold, Chimera Red, and staff accommo- losing money, so before she lost the value Chimera Quadhop and Chimera Raspberry Wheat dation, plus a private of her home elsewhere she gave two garden. weeks’ notice to quit. 22 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... Island in the Sea ...... PINTS WEST

available at all time for the use of the burgers were cooked in the garden. The public. The Real Ale & Cider tent was permanent bar, which is open to the B&B now available to those that paid £4 in advance public, was also open during the weekend, and £5 on the door for a glass, programme where Butcombe Bitter sells at £1.80 and a available and free half pint, after which real ale and changing guest ale at £1.90 per pint. cider cost a good-value 80p per half pint. Live entertainment was provided by It is pleasing to see that the same The Shenanigans (an Irish band) on the Punch Taverns have invested in the With over 50 different beers and ciders Friday evening. Saturday afternoon Friendship pub in Nailsea, which has from places as far away as Cumbria and Manchester, and some brought down featured folk music with Fougere Rouge resulted in them being able to provide and the Willbees (a close harmony duo) B&B accommodation, something in short from the north by local member Norman and the Acorns, who are a Ceilidh band supply in the town. Selwood, the weekend of superb weather saw big crowds enjoying the excellent ales made up of fine young musicians from Cath and Dave at the Friendship have Nailsea, with the Mendip Morris and the three rooms available: a double, a twin and and events. Breweries with ales at the festival included Badger, Bateman, Applejacks, an Appalachian dance troupe, a family room with a double bed and two bringing colour and variety. Saturday singles, at the bargain price of £20 per Berrow, Black Sheep, Butcombe, Caledo- nian, Scottish Courage, Elgood’s, evening saw a change of tempo with the night per adult with children free and Bristol Comets playing a wide range of airport parking available. They also Everard’s, Gale’s, Hampshire, Hawkshead, Holt, Hook Norton, Hyde’s, Inveralmond, music from the rock and roll era. A sunny dispense Courage Best at £2.10 and Sunday mellowed with the New Delta Jazz Thatcher’s Traditional dry cider at £1.90 Jenning’s, O’Hanlon’s, Osset, Ridley’s, Robinson’s, Skinner’s, Theakston, Band. per pint, and provide home-cooked food. Subject to confirmation, next year’s You can contact them by email at Wadworth, Wickwar, and Yates. Cider- makers providing eleven ciders were Long festival, the “Froth” one, will be from 30th [email protected] June to 2nd July, and will feature beers or by phone on 01275 541313. Ashton Cider Co, Orchards, Thatcher’s and Wilkin’s, with two perries from from the north of England. Orchards. CAMRA would like to congratulate the organisers of this very successful 2005 Nailsea Beer & Cider Festival, which must have done much to promote the wide variety of Beer and Cider beers, ciders and perries on the market, but not necessarily available locally. I have received very favourable reports Festival a big from CAMRA members, with there seeming to be a few members on site success! throughout the event. Nailsea & Backwell Rugby Club held its second annual beer festival in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West (often known as Babe’s Big Appeal) and to raise Cider-making funds for developing rugby in the area. The event took place over the weekend of returns to 15th to 17th July. Live music was spon- sored by Courage, and all beers and ciders were kindly sponsored by local busi- Nailsea nesses. The first two days were particu- Claverham A group of young people have formed larly busy, and extra beer, cider and “Hannah More Zider” with the aim of glasses had to be bought in. The amount “Slurd” Beer bringing cider-making back to Nailsea, and raised last year of £2,500 must have been help bring proper cider-drinking back to considerably exceeded – a sizeable and the world! Further information may be fitting tribute to all involved. Festival – bigger found on their excellent web site at Nick Williams speaking for the festival www.hannahmorezider.co.uk which team said, “I am absolutely delighted with and better than contains many web links including one to the support we received for this event the Apple group of CAMRA. from festival goers, sponsors and the hard Their web site states: “Nailsea, a working volunteers. We also have to ever Somerset town that sits just ten miles from thank the police for ensuring that there Now in its third (“slurd”) year, Bristol, spent most of the last century as were no traffic and parking problems and Claverham Beer Festival, held over the home to Britain’s second largest cider- also to thank our neighbours for their first weekend of July, was organised by works: Coates Cider. As Nailsea’s biggest tolerance and support for this charity Yeo Valley Lions and Claverham Village employer until its sad closure in 1975, event.” Enterprises. The festival raised £4,000 for Coates both established cider-making as This year’s event featured live music local charities, thanks to the major spon- the heart of Nailsea life, and put Nailsea from local Bristol rock bands and a local sor Stowell Concrete and also to Heritage on the map as the cider-making capital of folk band The Acorns and singer Lenny Estate Agency, Euro Building Services the world! Starting with very little cash, no Savage. The event also had lots of Ltd, and over thirty other private individu- apples, equipment or land – but with a children’s entertainment including a junior als and local business sponsors who love of scrumpy and a small book – we set rugby tournament, coconut shy, bouncy made the event possible. out in 2003 to bring cider-making back to castle, barbecue and several other side- There were over 30 beers from Wilt- Nailsea and produce the finest pint of shows. Those not partaking of the real shire, Dorset and Hampshire, five ciders cider ever tasted. And have fun doing it ales and ciders gained free entry and and several wines, which just lasted until along the way.” CAMRA wishes them could use the clubhouse bar, which is the Sunday afternoon. Hot dogs and well. National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 23 ...... PINTS WEST Island in the Sea ......

coloured table cloths and matching Martin Howell napkins in glasses as well as candles on The club scene the tables making this positively a restau- Clubs generally have a membership reports … rant area. The centre bar which may be fee, but not the Nailsea & Backwell refurbished with more lounge-style Rugby Club which is open to the public Tony Fey at the Old Barn in Wraxall seating is the real ale bar, with Wickwar has replaced Bass with Fuller’s London with Courage Best at £2.20 per pint. Bob at £2.20 per pint, Courage Best and The Backwell Village Club has Pride at £2.20 a pint until, he says, the Butcombe Bitter at £2.25 (£1.15 per half), quality of the present offering from the Courage Best and a changing guest ale at Bass at £2.30 and Speckled Hen at £2.35 £1.80 per pint. One notable recent guest brewery of “mud-like” Bass improves. (£1.20 per half). Also at £2.20 Tony had St Austell Tribute, ale was Slaters Best from Eccleshall Moles Best and Landlord’s Choice, plus Brewery. Their membership fee is £15 per The George Inn on the A370 at year plus a £10 joining fee. RCH Double Header at £2.40 per pint – all Backwell has four cask-conditioned ales: on gravity dispense. The Grove Sports & Social Club sells Bass at £2.40, Butcombe Bitter and Ushers Courage Best at £2 per pint. Their mem- Best at £2.30 and Wychwood Hobgoblin bership fee is £5 per year plus a £2 joining at £2.40 per pint. Their comprehensive fee. menu keeps the kitchen very busy, but The Mizzymead Recreation Centre & Alan Sibley they no longer offer a Chinese takeaway Social Club has a good turnover of real service. ales, with Courage Best at £1.70, reports … Butcombe Bitter at £1.75, and a changing All change at the Dew Drop Inn at the The Blue Flame at West End, Nailsea guest ale between £1.80 and £2.10 per pint top of the Long Ashton by-pass on the depending on strength. The guest ales are – also with gravity dispense and the only A370. This is now probably the most pub in our area to win an entry in the 2005 from the S&N Cellarman’s Reserve range attractive looking pub both inside and out and change about twice a week. Their CAMRA Good Beer Guide – dispenses in this area, and judging by the car park it Bass and London Pride at £2.30 and RCH membership fee is £9 per year with no is becoming very popular again. The joining fee. East Street Cream at £2.40 per pint. garden has just been improved with a new The Ring of Bells offers Courage Best children’s play facility featuring climbing at £2.30 and changing guest beers at £2.40 The Grove Sports & Social Club at St walls, slide and monkey bars and rope, Mary’s Grove opposite the Ring of Bells per pint, and at the time of this report which makes me want to be a child again! these were Sharp’s Doom Bar from is to host it’s first mini beer festival over At the front a new large “umbrella” – with the 26-29 August Bank Holiday weekend, Cornwall and Caledonian Deuchars IPA heaters for the evenings – shades tables. from Scotland. Bass is also available at the with about ten real ales sourced from The pub has a very full menu and S&N, plus a few ciders and wines. Admis- guest beer price, on gravity from the unfortunately delivery of the food service adjacent cellar! sion will be free of charge, with a horse recently has not been acceptable to race on screen, barbecue, children’s play customers or the pub owners. After little facilities and an umpah band planned. See more than three months the managers and elsewhere in this Pints West for more some kitchen staff of the Dew Drop Inn details or phone the club on 01275 856892. Foody pubs – have “left”, and a new temporary general manager, Tim Sawtell, arrived in mid July to get things running correctly, ably where food is assisted by assistant manager, Stuart Jenkins. New management will be ap- Elsewhere in the dominant pointed and trained to take over early in the autumn. Tim also manages the Inn On Nailsea sevice provided The Green opposite the pier at Paignton The White Lion dispenses Courage where his wife and children live and will Best and Butcombe Bitter at £2.20 per pint be please to have him back! There was a time when the only beer and has recently introduced a third I am pleased to report that real ale has changing guest ale at £2.30 per pint. They you found in a restaurant or foody pub maintained its good standard at the Dew was bottled or keg, but not now it seems. tried Newman’s Wolver’s Ale from Drop Inn: Courage Best at £2.35 per pint Banwell which “went a bomb”. The first Customers at pubs which appear to rely and £1.20 per half is the mainstay and more on the sale of food than drink cannot firkin (72 pints) disappeared in twenty- changing guests at £2.50 per pint have four hours. Four more firkins were hurried get enough copies of Pints West and real recently included Butcombe Gold, Otter ale. in and they went almost as quickly. The Bitter and Smiles Best. food is good too at the White Lion, my The New Battle Axe at Wraxall family having tried it recently. dispenses Courage Best and a guest ale at £2.30 per pint, and manager Andy The Sawyers Arms was the first pub Charlock recently decided to change from Price of beer in Nailsea to introduce Newman’s Newman’s Wolver’s Ale to Butcombe Readers may have noticed mention of Wolver’s Ale, which they sell at £2.20 per Bitter. His customers protested so much prices of pints of beer throughout this pint, the same price as Courage Best and that he has had to reinstate Wolver’s Ale. article with half pint prices where they are Butcombe Bitter. Maybe it is time for a third pump for a other than half the pint price. This is in changing guest ale Andy! response to some people questioning me The Courtyard Wine Bar has Bass on the subject of real ale prices. The price and Marston’s Pedigree at £2.40 per pint, Kim and Hugh Dash told me that they you pay not only pays for the ale, it pays and the Olde Farmhouse, being owned by and their loyal staff recently served over for the ambience of the pub or club, live Badger Brewery, dispenses their own 200 meals in two and a half hours at The music, children’s play facilities, staffing, Tanglefoot at £2.55 (£1.35 per half), Star in Tickenham. The conservatory area even for peace and quiet, and a host of Badger Best at £2.40, and Sussex Ale at of the bar has been transformed with two other things. £2.20 per pint. 24 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... Island in the Sea ...... PINTS WEST

Abbey Bellringer, Bass and Dorset Away from Gold. Globetrotting Nailsea & The Old Bank in Keynsham is HELLO to all fellow readers of Pints West. My name worth a visit. While waiting for a train is Mark Ashman and I help my uncle, Laurie Gibney a pint of City of Cambridge Darwin’s (Island in the Sea correspondent) distribute Pints District Downfall (5% ABV) at £1.50 almost West and taste the beer in the local pubs in Nailsea. A couple of trips to Bath recently made me miss my train! Other cask Here is an article I have written that I hope will found Abbey Ales Bellringer, Bass, ales were Butcombe Gold, RCH PG enlighten you all on the different beers from around Courage Best and Otter Bitter at the Steam, and Wickwar’s BOB and IKB. the world in different continents, North America and Ram, Widcombe, from where it is a Also, there was Thatcher’s Tradi- South-Eastern Europe. Together with my mum, we pleasant canal-side walk to a couple of tional Cider. went to these very different countries for two pubs in Bathwick. The Barley with Bass, different holidays of a lifetime. Butcombe Bitter and a guest, which at Closer to home in Long Ashton I the time was Adnams Bitter, and the paid my first visit to the Bird in Hand Canada Pulteney Arms with Bath Ales Gem, which has recently been refurbished Back in February 2005 I went to Canada for a 10- Fuller’s London Pride, Wadworth 6X by Mentor Inns providing a light and day skiing holiday. We started off in Toronto, and Young’s Bitter. airy ambiance. I was greeted by Ontario for three nights and while we were there I had A short walk beside Henrietta Park, tenants Matthew and Gabrielle West a few local beers, one of which was Canadian Dark. the Fire Station and across the river on who had recently taken charge. They The name says it all – Canadian Dark is a typical mild the grand Cleveland Bridge to the had Courage Best and Courage with an ABV of 4.3%, a lovely taste, no bitterness, Curfew, a Wadworth house with Directors in cask, but hoped to be and a beer that you could drink all night. Henry’s IPA, 6X and Summersault, and able to offer a more varied range of Next stop was Mont Tremblant in the French on to the Star Inn on the Paragon found real ale in the future. Province of Quebec. In the hotel, or shall I say ‘La Helston’s Slingo Special, Springhead’s Grand Lodge’ as it was called, we had a very well- Moaning Meg, and Bass on gravity and known beer called Leffe, which was served on by jug, as well as Abbey Ales Bellringer draught, a lovely way to serve such a beer in my and Salvation. And finally in opinion. Another beer which I was able to try was The Raven has become a real ale one called La Tremblant, a 5% beer which is brewed lovers’ must-do pub, which has a in St. Jovite, a little picturesque village in Tremblant. changing range including Blindman’s Italy It is a lovely dark amber colour and very smooth, Dark, Raven Ale, Speckled Hen and on a Real ales appear impossible to find with a lovely long lingering aftertaste which is not too recent visit Hartley’s Cumbria Way that in our holiday area. The best tipple in dry – it makes you want another just to keep the I found to be just my cup of tea. This Venice was Ceres Strong Export Ale taste lingering forever. Another beer I bought home also applied to Abbey Ales dark Mild at from Denmark at 7.7% although was Blanche des Anges at 4%, again brewed in The Volunteer Rifleman which also had Chinese Tsing Tao beer, Birra Moretti Tremblant using natural spring water. and Sans Souci slaked the Cyprus thirst. Another trip, this time to the resort of Paphos in On Lake Cyprus for a two-week relaxing holiday in the sun in Garda at the June and July. Sun, sea, sand and beer is perhaps all delightful you can ask for on a holiday like this. There are two medieval town beers (though not real ales) brewed on the island of of Malcesne, Cyprus, from Keo and Leon, both of which I had at Crystall Beer Cypria Maris Hotel. (5.6%) and a The beer Keo at 4.5% is something like an English Poretti (5%) lager. When I first tried Keo I didn’t particularly rate were OK, but I it, and thought it tasted more like Kaliber (a non- settled for Hefe alcoholic beer), but after a while it started to grow on THE WINDMILL INN Weisens from me and I considered it more a drinkable session beer. Germany in the PORTISHEAD ~ GENUINE F REEHOUSE The beer Leon is a very basic, boring beer, and end. The another like an English lager, but this time it gets Paulaner, worse and worse as you drink it, and ends with a Erdinger, very dry aftertaste. Definitely not one I’d recom- 6 Steigel, mend. Real Ales in excellent condition Schneider and While I was in Cyprus we went to a little place including Courage Best, Bass, Hafferoder called the Irish Pub about a ten-minute walk towards Franiskaner the harbour. Hoping for some quality beers when we Butcombe Gold, RCH Pitchfork were very walked in, having seen ten draught beers on the sign, and 2 other guest ales. acceptable but we only found one decent one which was top marks went Hoegaarden, very refreshing in the hot evenings. The to the Marke In fact if you are not completely satisfied with the pleasant surroundings and the friendly staff made it Weltenburger worth the wait for the best drink of the holiday. All quality of the beer served, we will exchange it Hefe – glasses were chilled so you did have the perfect pint. immediately for any other no questions asked. Weisbier Hell at 4.7% ABV, it Apart from the beer the two countries we went to The Windmill Inn is situated next to the was a dark are very highly recommended for anybody wanting a Portishead Approach Golf Course on Nore Road. wheat beer and holiday to remember. To contact us please ring 01275 843677. slipped down From your globetrotting Nailsea Correspondent... too easily. Mark Ashman National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 25 ...... PINTS WEST ...... may go unheard of until it is too late and Barn, Wraxall. then, because of lack of support, beer gets Queen’s Arms, Bleadon. READERS’ LETTERS sold off cheap the following week or is Black Horse, Clapton-in-Gordano. thrown. Hunter’s Lodge, Priddy. I am constantly trawling for beer Star, Pucklechurch. Froth Off served straight from the barrel. Can you Bell, Walcot Street, Bath. tell me, are there any straight-from-barrel Star Inn, Paragon, Bath. serving pubs in Bristol? I dont mind the Plough, Congresbury. beers, the more variety the better. My Blue Flame, Nailsea. regular when visiting Bristol is either the Prince of Waterloo, Winford. Wellington in Horfield which did well in What might I have missed? the 2005 Pub of the Year awards, or the Most of the pubs will serve such beers in Hare on the Hill (I am partial to a Barn- excellent condition. Ed. stormer or two). I prefer to support the smaller breweries that get it right: Brain’s is who we have across here and I don’t New Inn’s first quenches thirst agree with their opinion that it is real ale! Congratulations must go to Steve and Readers are welcome to send (I can think of one or two people who Emma at the New Inn, Cross, for their letters to Pints West Editor, might not feel the same as you here: fans inaugural beer festival held over the May Steve Plumridge, of Brain’s SA as served at the Highbury Bank Holiday weekend. The pub is Garden Flat, 6 Royal York Villas, Vaults and Micawber’s Ale House on St. already gaining a reputation for friendly Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JR Michael’s Hill for instance – Ed.) welcoming service, and offers a good ([email protected]) Keep up the excellent informative Pints range of well kept real ales and cider, West so that we (or me – but I do pass along with a wide selection of reasonably any information on in my local watering priced food available all day. Dear Steve, holes) can continue to enjoy the best. Based around a West Country theme, I live in Cardiff and am fortunate that Many thanks, there was a selection of over 20 ales on my two children are in Bristol, one work- Lewis J Roberts offer, from 14 breweries, plus ciders. From ing and one at university, which gives me Cardiff (by email). traditional favourites such as Hop Back access not only to a very large selection For pubs in Bristol dispensing straight Summer Lightning , Otter Ale, and Bath of real ale pubs in and around Bristol but from the cask, I can think of the following Gem, through to a few more unusual access to your fantastic Pints West which offer one or more of their beers offerings such as Country Life Lacey’s magazine continuously advising what’s served that way: New Ale and Exmoor Silver Stallion. where and what’s on. This is something Myrtle Tree, Hotwells. Beer quality was good, as all ales were that seems lacking across here in Cardiff. White Horse, Westbury-on-Trym. gravity dispensed from a suitably cool Real ale festivals that are held by pubs Swan With Two Necks, St Judes. stone outbuilding, and particularly Phoenix, Old enjoyable were RCH Old Slug Porter, Market. Exmoor Beast and Cottage Norman’s Rose of Denmark, Conquest. As for the ciders, Moles Black Malt, Hops, Yeast & Water! Hotwells. Rat was extremely popular, and rapidly Humpers Off sold out. Licence, Stapleton We hear that another festival is being Road. planned for some time in August, and And further afield: hope that details will be available to Crown, Churchill CAMRA well in advance. (multi-award- Marianne Rake & Justin Bailey winning pub). (by email). CAMRA What’s In Yours? membership Make it yours at NATIONAL membership of the Campaign for Real Ale currently THE WHITE LION, Quay Head, Bristol City Centre stands at 76,666 (writing just before the Great British Beer Festival) or and in the Bristol and District branch we have over 1,200 members, THE PRINCESS OF WALES, Westbourne Grove, Bedminster, making it one of the top ten for numbers. Bristol. We are an active branch, with members contributing to the Also available direct from the brewery in 18 and 36 pint polypins selection of pubs that we put forward to the top selling Good Beer or delivered direct to your door. Guide, campaigning to save pubs and to protect the consumer, and of course organising the hugely successful and sell-out THE AWARD WINNING BREWERS OF Bristol Beer Festival. GLOUCESTERSHIRE Did you know that members get advance notice of when the The Wickwar Brewing Co Ltd, Gloucestershire, UK tickets go on sale, so they can avoid that agonising last minute 01454 294 168 panic trying to get hold of a ticket? To join please use the form at [email protected] the back of Pints West, fill in the Direct Debit Mandate (or cheque www.wickwarbrewing.com payable to CAMRA) and send it to the membership secretary. Pete Tanner 26 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Silver Stallion loose on Exmoor Exmoor Ales celebrates 25 years of brewing IF someone tells you that they’ve just come their way, while bottled versions of seen a Silver Stallion in their local pub, the cask beers, Gold and Beast, have also don’t worry, the landlord hasn’t suddenly scooped up plaudits and accolades. Early set up a riding school amongst his summer also saw the start of direct handpumps and bags of crisps. Silver deliveries of bottled Gold and Beast to Co- Stallion is actually the name of a brilliant op stores throughout the southwest, new beer created by Exmoor Ales to where they will be sold under the rousing celebrate 25 years of brewing in banner of “local produce”. Wiveliscombe, a period which has seen In 1986 Exmoor Ales started a new them become one of the the biggest and trend with their single-malt Exmoor Gold, best-loved brewers of cask ales in Somer- arguably the very first golden ale, a style set. The new beer joins a robust and well- of beer which has tempted and tantalised maintained stable of Exmoor Ales’ other ale-lovers. This has also been a multi- superb beers, including Exmoor Ale, Fox, award winner and a great favourite Gold, Hart and Stag. These are ales throughout southwest pubs and beyond. available throughout a grateful nation of In August 1988 Exmoor Ales became the beer-lovers, either through direct delivery official name of the company. The brewery in the southwest from Cornwall right up to has grown steadily since, both in and out Bristol, or nationwide through wholesalers of the county, becoming one of the UK’s such as Waverley TBS (formerly the Beer most successful craft breweries, not mid-brown colour. We’re really pleased Seller), Small Beer and Brewers Wholesale. always an easy task given the might and with it and the fact that it’s gone down so As well as celebrating 25 years with a power of the big breweries. well with the trade just confirms that our new beer, Exmoor Ales have launched a Gorgeous beers such as Stag, Fox and head brewer Adrian knows how to craft a beautiful new set of pumpclips, which Beast have confirmed the brewery’s place great beer. reflect the unique heritage and environ- in the front ranks of West Country “We hope people will enjoy a pint to ment on Exmoor National Park. “We brewing. Peter Turner and head brewer celebrate our anniversary and here’s to decided to introduce a new range of Adrian Newman (he joined in 1992 after the next 25 years.” attractive pump-clips to celebrate our 25th spending several years at Belhaven in Adrian Tierney-Jones anniversary and Exmoor’s glorious Scotland) are currently the sole directors Exmoor Ales, Wiveliscombe, Somerset countryside,” says the brewery’s Manag- of the company. The beers Adrian TA4 2NY - (01984) 623798 ing Director Peter Turner. “We are Newman has nur- delighted with the enthusiastic reception tured and developed of our new images by both the public and reflect his belief that Enjoy a Warm Welcome the trade.” a well-balanced beer and a Pleasant Atmosphere Exmoor Ales started in 1980, when the is what drinkers idea of micro-breweries was in its infancy. want. It was originally called Golden Hill Brew- “The secret of ery, after its hill-top location in our success is the The Annexe Inn Wiveliscombe, and its creation brought drinkability of the Seymour Road, Bishopston, Bristol brewing back to the town for the first time beers,” he says. since the closure of Arnold & Hancock’s Silver Stallion is Tel. 0117 9493931 in the late 1950s. Almost immediately, Newman’s latest Golden Hill made its mark on the beer innovation; a A Real Ale Pub world when the 13th brew of Exmoor Ale lipsmackingly was voted Best Bitter at CAMRA’s Great delicious bitter with a 6 Real Ales British Beer Festival in 1980. Since then crisp and complex countless other brewing awards have taste, malty with Large conservatory (available for private hire) citrus and spice Family room (including baby changing facilities) overtones, using Enclosed garden open throughout the year four English hops Disabled access and a blend of pale Lunchtime and early evening snacks The Victoria and chocolate malts. - including children’s menu - (next to the Clifton Pool) It is a true thorough- Pool table bred which has galloped straight out All TV sports events covered of the stalls and onto Relaxed, friendly atmosphere Butcombe Bitter the bars of Exmoor’s satisfied customers. Monday Night is Quiz Night Wadworth 6X “We were You can also enjoy various promotions guest ales planned looking for a rather and special offers during the year special session beer,” adds Peter 2 Southleigh Road, Clifton Open Lunchtimes & Evenings Turner, “not too All day Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays 0117 - 9745675 strong and with a

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 27 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Royal Oak opened SO many times we hear of pub closures in the local press, Pints West and What’s Brewing that it comes as a breath of fresh air to hear of a former pub, long closed, coming back to life, particularly when opening as a genuine freehouse. August 5th saw the grand opening of Bath’s newest pub, the Royal Oak. This is located at the traffic signal junction of the Lower Bristol Road with the New Windsor Bridge Road. With Becky and John Whinnerah at the helm, real ale was confidently predicted to feature significantly, but I was not quite prepared for just how. Though I arrived a mere half hour after opening, I found punters two deep along the bar and the magical scene of ten beer engines in use. John had made sure that the pub’s name featured here as well, with O’Hanlon’s Royal Oak on sale. Others including Codrington Royal, Isle of Purbeck Solar Power, Fraoch, Cotleigh Barn Owl, Blindman’s Icarus, Juward’s Pale Ale and “Test Brew” from Otley also featured. Shortly after I arrived the crew wheeled out plates of nibbles for the increasingly merry crowd and later Fiddler no wine bottle opener and that there was no recommended by the Cider Sisters”, which John & Friends entertained with music. lager. In the latter case this was a problem puts our Freya and Erica in the spotlight However, the opening has not been all arising from success. It is John’s intention somewhat. plain sailing. John and Becky and family have only to stock Bath Ales’ organic lager and It seems that this establishment is quickly had to live in a caravan beside the pub while apparently the good citizens of Bath and going to become very well and widely known. building work was in progress, and with environs had drunk every drop. During my fairly short visit there I encoun- John’s enthusiasm to get beer rolling it was a As well and a grand, changing selection of tered folk from as far afield as Bristol, Weston- real struggle to get enough done to open on the ten real ales, John and Becky also intend to super-Mare, Reading, Canada, Australia, New publicized date. I saw for myself that the pub feature a changing real cider or perry. To help Zealand and Holland. While the river tow path sign only went up the day before and John in deciding what to stock they contacted Pints is my obvious way home from work on the told me that the bar was only installed a few West’s very own Cider Sisters for advice. The bike it will now be abandoned in favour of the days earlier. And work is still in progress. A first cider to be featured at the Royal Oak was Lower Bristol Road, just to monitor progress beer garden is planned; Becky was most one from Rich’s (Rich’s Farmhouse Cider, you understand. distressed that there was insufficient time to Mill Farm, Watchfield, Highbridge, Somerset), Phill the Pint complete this for opening even though they and indeed future ciders will be labelled “as Photos by Andrew Swift had all been working all hours. There will also be a no-smoking room but again there was insufficient time to complete this for opening. Two other minor glitches (minor for the of the first brew run, and the second brew run real ale drinker anyway) were that there was Rave on is now being planned. I certainly enjoyed my pint (half actually – it was lunchtime and I had AT the Raven in Bath the new hierarchy have work to do) and feel that Blindman’s has done well enough to have the confidence to fit produced a good representation of the a fifth hand pump. The other four pumps have specified style. Try it yourself to verify. a good rotation of beers but this fifth pump is Apparently you can obtain it to take away in now reserved for an interesting innovation: the 18- and 36-pint containers. introduction of a house bitter. For those that like this sort of information, Many pubs do this by re-badging an the brew contains Maris Otter, Crystal and existing brew but Tim at the Raven has not Amber malts, and a selected blend of Chal- done this. He has contacted the Blindman’s lenger, Styrian Goldings and Chinook hops. Brewery and asked them to produce a specific The Raven is also having the beer specially and original ale as follows: “A dark ruby beer mixed to produce Raven sausages. Or should it with a bitter first taste, slightly sweet as it be Raven Ale sausages? That would sound rolls across the tongue, with a dry smooth more appetising. These complement the finish, looking like a porter but tasting lighter.” recently introduced specialist pies that are While it did go on sale during July the now on sale there... something else for me to official launch for the beer was the 4th of try. August. Tim has just received the second batch Phill the Pint

28 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST History of the Abbey Ales joins SIBA’s Direct Royal Oak Delivery (From Bath’s Lost Pubs, to be published later this year) Scheme

THE Royal Oak dates from the mid-1790s. Part of the building sits over The organisation: a brook, which suggests it may have been built as a mill or even a brewery. However, it does not seem to have been a pub at the start, and SIBA, the Society of Small Independent Brewers. the first record of it being a beerhouse comes from 1839. Although it The scheme: may have opened some time earlier, it could not have opened as a DDS, the Direct Distribution Scheme. beerhouse before 1830, when the Beerhouse Act came into force. One of its earliest landlords was a cooper called Thomas Strange. The objective: In 1874, the Somerset & Dorset Railway, swinging down from To enable retailers within multiple groups to Devonshire Tunnel to join the Midland line into Green Park station, directly source local brewers’ products in crossed the Lower Bristol Road so close to the Royal Oak that part of the building had to be set back. A detailed inventory of the Royal Oak response to the fast growing interest in locally was prepared that same year. There was a bar (with a five-motion beer brewed beer. engine, four pewter beer engines, a porter pull, partition and serving Abbey Ales in Bath is one of the latest brewing companies to join counter), bar parlour, back parlour (with chess table, ottoman, decanters SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme. and candlesticks), taproom, parlour, four bedrooms, workshop, brew- Managing Director Alan Morgan said: “We are late joining the ery, skittle alley and club room. scheme but after calls from local Enterprise Inns licensees in Bath and Apart from its Somerset & Dorset connection, the Royal Oak was Bristol we felt we would be silly not to join. So far it has proved also famous for having one of the longest serving landladies in Bath. extremely succesful and it works very well for us and the licensees we Alfred Beard had been at the Royal Oak for less than five years when he are supplying. We are now hoping to build on what we have started.” died in 1874. His widow, Eliza Beard, took over the pub and ran it until The scheme, launched a year and a half ago, has benefited not only around 1930. the UK’s small brewers, but also pub groups, retailers and customers The building was badly damaged by bombing in 1942, with a large alike in outlets run by Avebury Taverns, New Century Inns, Enterprise crack running right across the front of the building. The front wall was Inns, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and ASDA supermarkets. hastily rebuilt – unfortunately marring the appearance of the building in The overall objective of SIBA DDS is to facilitate commerce the process – and the pub reopened a few weeks later. between micro-suppliers and macro-customers. It enables local delivery In 1976, when Fred Pearce wrote his Critical Guide to Bath Pubs, he and local consumption of local beers. Local pubs can build partnerships described it as: “an intimate and exceptionally pleasant well-kept house. with their local breweries and, through co-operation and marketing, The public (Oak Room) has black and white TV, matching wood increase trade to their mutual benefit. panelling and tables, darts and shove ha’penny. Small compact lounge SIBA DDS is an electronic, internet-based administration system. has flowering plants in the window.” The key to the success of the scheme is that SIBA DDS facilitates direct In 1993 Courage’s sold the Royal Oak to Moles’ Brewery (who also trade with local pubs, but provides a single point of contact for the owned the Hop Pole on the Upper Bristol Road and the Old Crown in pubcos’ headquarters. Effectively a ‘one-stop-shop’ for retailers, SIBA Twerton), but it closed in 1999. In 2002, it survived plans to demolish it DDS maximizes commercial benefits and minimizes administrative and build a Jehovah’s Witness Hall. Since then, extensive – and ex- burdens. tremely sympathetic – renovations have since been carried out. The SIBA DDS is responsible for sourcing the beers, consolidating front wall, in particular, now looks as good – if not better – than it did orders, processing payments to its members and managing deliveries to before the Luftwaffe left their calling card. In August 2005, it finally retailers. Orders can be transmitted as simple electronic files to SIBA on reopened, and looks set to be one of the top real ale pubs in the area. a daily basis. These orders are processed into ‘Delivery Notes’ and The Royal Oak conforms pretty closely to most real-ale drinkers’ transmitted to the brewers. Working within a strict ‘Delivery Charter’, idea of the perfect pub. Ten hand pumps – and no lager, except in brewers are trained to receive such documentation and deliver the bottles (although Bath Ales’ organic lager is likely to come on line in the products. By using customer-specific paperwork, all deliveries can be next few weeks). The range of beer will change regularly, and there’s reconciled with ‘Proof of Delivery’ and, on confirmation of delivery, almost certain to be something even the most assiduous beer festival files are transmitted back to the customer. enthusiast won’t have tried before. A recent visit found Blindman’s In the time it has been running, the scheme has proven that where Icarus, RCH Old Slug Porter and Cotleigh Barn Owl from Somerset, retailers and pubco lessees have been given the chance to stock local Triple FFF Moondance Bitter from Hampshire, Heather Grozat from beers from small brewers, they have taken advantage of it and enhanced Lanarkshire, Country Life Golden Pig from Devon, and Butt’s Barbus their businesses and cask beer volumes by offering their own customers Barbus from Berkshire. Cider is currently represented by Rich’s a wider and more attractive product range. Farmhouse from near Highbridge. Card-carrying CAMRA members get Nick Stafford, SIBA’s Commercial Director, has said of the scheme: 10% discount off pints, and the pub is open every day from noon to “The DDS has been so beneficial to hundreds of pubs in the UK since eleven (10.30 on Sundays). Food will be available as soon as the kitchen its launch that I am confident we will have scores more eager to join. All is up and running, sometime in the next couple of months. these developments are in line with the resurgence in real ale which Andrew Swift SIBA has been long been publicising.”

We’re very sorry, but we’re afraid we’re not going to be able to do a ‘Cider Sisters’ article for this issue. Many apologies, Wot, no Cider Sisters? we’ll be back next time... Cheers, Freya and Erica McLuckie.

National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 29 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Pub news from the Bath area FROM 30 July, the Royal Oak in The Garrick’s Head in St John’s Corsham High Street, just over the border Place, next to the Theatre Royal, closed in Wiltshire, has closed at 6pm on Satur- early in 2005, a few months short of its day evenings. The landlord, Nick Taylor, bicentenary. Built around 1720 for Beau says he took the step because of prob- Nash, the “King of Bath,” it opened as a lems caused by Saturday-night drinkers. pub in October 1805, when the Theatre To compensate, he is opening at 9.30am Royal moved to its present site. Although on Saturdays to serve breakfasts. known as the Garrick’s Head from the start, after one of England’s most famous Wetherspoon’s, which opened its first eighteenth-century actor-managers, the outlet in Bath only last year, introduced a bust above the entrance was only placed no-smoking rule on 9 March. Plans by the there in 1831. It had its own brewery until local council to introduce a smoking ban around 1890. in pubs in advance of a national ban are reported to be at an advanced stage, with proposals only needing Mr Prescott’s rubber stamp before they come into effect. So far, pubs in Bath (apart from Wether- spoon’s) which have tried to introduce a ban have backed down after a downturn in takings. A blanket ban, although opposed by many, is unlikely to have the same effect – as the jargon-mongers would put it, a level-playing-field scenario will become operational. Sam Weller’s as the Full Moon c1910

revamped in the name of progress. If it had been left alone – as the Star and the Old Green Tree were – its closure would have sparked protests not just in Bath but across the region.

The Garrick’s Head Two years ago, it was taken over by the landlord of the King’s Arms at Didmarton, a former Gloucestershire CAMRA Pub of the Year, who had plans to transform it into one of Bath’s top real Sam Weller’s shut summer 2005 King of Wessex Wetherspoon ale pubs. Sadly, the management (who also run the theatre) decided that its Out of town, the Viaduct Inn at Meanwhile, Wetherspoon’s in Bath future would be brighter as a wine bar. Monkton Combe closed in June. Opened may be feeling slightly short-changed. That is what it will become when it in the 1830s when the turnpike road (now Having moved into the Kingsmead reopens in 2006. the A36) was opened along the Limpley Leisure Complex near Green Park Station Stoke valley, its name refers to the road at the same time as the Odeon multiplex Nearby, on Upper Borough Walls, viaduct across Midford Brook. The lease cinema, they’ve been catching the punters Sam Weller’s closed in March 2005, with has been sold to Amec Developments, a not only as they go in, but also as they go metal shutters going up a few days later. out, parched by buckets of salty popcorn. Strangely enough, the passing of a pub Now, Odeon have applied for a licence to which has been there since at least 1739 sell beer themselves, so punters can was marked by not a word of protest or guzzle away as they watch movies. It lamentation. It did not even make it to the won’t be real ale, and the potential for pages of the Bath Chronicle. The closure low-level yobbishness and the disruption may only be temporary, but, given what caused by frequent visits to the facilities has happened elsewhere in Bath, the have left most cinema-goers distinctly chances of it becoming another wine bar lukewarm as to the proposals. Just must be alarmingly high. In the early another unanticipated angle to the 1960s, Sam Weller’s – then known as the government’s liberalisation of the licens- Full Moon – had a traditional wood- ing laws. panelled interior. Then it was gutted and The boarded-up Viaduct Inn 30 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST

London-based property company. kind of pub legends are made of – or at wife) on the opposite corner. When it Although close to a canal marina, it stood least tall stories.” closed in 2003, after a somewhat cheq- at a very busy crossroads, with little That’s a quote from its website, which, uered recent career, its future looked provision for pedestrians. It was also sadly, is no longer on line. Following a bleak. With no car park and virtually no hampered by lack of parking space. If the dramatic rent hike by the pubco, the on-street parking, it was surely too far out pub is converted to flats, as now seems leaseholder, the Hat shut last year. It went of town, too small, too run down, to ever likely, the old three-storey brewery which out on a high, with a spectacular firework be viable again. But, against all the odds, stood next door, and looks much as it did display. A few weeks later, when the Charlie and Amanda Digney took on when operational, will be transformed out pubco put in a temporary manager, it challenge and spent months revamping of all recognition. Railway enthusiasts reopened, but then, on a miserable night the place, before reopening it – without a may like to note that the GWR branch at the end of November 2004, it closed for change of name – early in 2004. Real ale, from Limpley Stoke to Camerton branch, good. real wine, an adventurous and upmarket which ran next to the pub, featured in the The lease was taken by Richard food policy, and an object lesson in how film The Titfield Thunderbolt. Fenton, who owns the Firehouse Rotis- an unloved back-street boozer can be serie in John Street and the Grappa Bar brought bang up to date without compro- Readers with the odd £1.3 million to (formerly the Beehive pub) on Belvedere. mising its essential character – or getting spare and a yearning to live in an old After an extensive revamp it opened in rid of many time-worn fittings – has country pub may be interested in the April 2005 as the Hudson Bar and Grill. ensured that the King William has been Packhorse Farm at Southstoke, just Although real ale (Sharp’s Doom Bar) is popular right from the start. It’s also south of Bath. Until the early nineteenth on offer, the move sparked a heated, and managed what is no easy conjuring trick, century, this was the Packhorse Inn, at times vituperative, exchange of views in managing to attract upmarket diners while supposedly dating back to medieval times. the letters page of the Bath Chronicle, still hanging on to regulars from the old When Midford Road was rerouted, to give much of it condemning the loss of a name King William. coaches an easier climb out of Midford to that had lasted almost 350 years. In a poll Combe Down, the inn closed, and its name organised by the Chronicle, 66% of and licence were transferred to a farm- respondents said the name should not house in Southstoke village. The new have been changed; 29% were in favour. Packhorse is still in business, one of the In the Bath Chronicle on 11 June most unchanged and characterful country 2005, Richard Fenton was quoted as pubs in the Bath area, with a superb saying: “The days of a husband going location and gardens to front and rear. straight to the pub after a hard day’s work and going home to his long-suffering wife at closing time are over. The wife wants to go out too – and she wants some grilled shrimps and a cocktail … The Hat and Feather was a traditional pub with a Bohemian edge. We have maintained the edge and all the Victorian features, but it has been smartened up.” The old Hat & Feather sign now adorns a wall inside the pub.

The Raven The Raven on Queen Street, also in line for an early return to the Good Beer Guide, has commissioned its own ale from Blindman’s Brewery at Leighton near Frome. A strong dark ale with an ABV of 4.7, it has already proved a firm favourite, alongside Bellringer and a constantly- changing range of three guest beers. As well as local ales, beers from further afield, including regular appearances from award- The Hat and Feather winning breweries north of the border, can One closure that did spark vigorous be found at the Raven. Foodwise, its debate was that of the Hat & Feather at lunchtime pies are proving popular, while the top of Walcot Street. Almost certainly the upstairs room, so long underused, is dating from the 1660s, and taking its name The King William now a stylish no-smoking bar with some from the distinctive headgear of Royalists of the best views in the city. If you’ve not during the Civil War, it was rebuilt around A little further out of town, the King visited the pub since it was Hatchett’s, its 1900. William on the corner of Thomas Street high time to see what’s happened to it in The Hat was a Bath institution, famed and London Road, goes from strength to the last twelve months. not for the quality of its beer, but as strength. A street-corner beerhouse, Andrew Swift “Bath’s original underground hangout – opened in the 1830s, there was once a pub not a style bar, more a way of life – the called the Queen Adelaide (after William’s National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 31 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Oldfield Park pub crawl BATH’S newest free house, the Royal Oak, is on the Lower Bristol Road, about 25 minutes west of the city centre. However, the good news is that there are not only lots of buses passing the door; it is also less than a quarter of a mile from Oldfield Park station. There are trains to Oldfield Park from Temple Meads on Mondays to Fridays every hour from 09.40 to 19.40 (with extra services The King’s Arms sign at 17.08, 17.22, 18.07, 20.50 and 21.56). The journey takes about 15 minutes. Saturday and The King’s Arms is also interesting because Sunday trains are less frequent – also be it’s the closest thing Bath has to a traditional warned that buses will replace trains between coaching inn, with a tiny courtyard and a Bristol, Bath and Westbury at weekends from couple of well-preserved signboards. 17 September to 6 November because of Another Wadworth’s house, the New Inn, engineering work. opened as a beerhouse around 1837, can be Trains back to Temple Meads on week- found further down Monmouth Place. After days run hourly from 14.12 to 18.12, then at that, a left turn at the traffic lights into Chapel 19.20, 20.14, 21.12, 22.11, and 22.51. Row takes you up into Queen Square. Carry Once ensconced in the Royal Oak, you on past the Francis Hotel along the south side may decide to stay put until it’s time to catch of the square, and head on along Wood Street the train back. You could, however, use it as to its junction with John Street and Queen the starting point for a pub crawl into Bath, Street. Here you are spoilt for choice. A few before catching a train back from Bath Spa yards up John Street is the Salamander, Bath station. One suggested crawl from Oldfield Ales’ second pub in Bath; a few yards down Park to Bath could look like this: The former Royal Oak, Upper Bristol Road Queen Street is the Raven, formerly Turn left on leaving the train at Oldfield Hatchett’s, a free house with five handpumps, Park station, climb the ramp and turn right Bridge Road to the traffic lights on the Upper an adventurous guest beer policy, and its own down Brook Road (named after the brook that Bristol Road. On the left-hand corner stands brew – called Raven – from Blindman’s runs under the Royal Oak). Near the bottom the old Windsor Castle Inn, now converted Brewery. Carry straight on along Quiet Street you’ll see the Charmbury Arms on the left, a into flats and offices, with only the front wall and down Green Street and you’ll come to the of the pub still standing as a façade to the new current CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Old development. Turn right here and walk down Green Tree. The choice is so difficult, in fact, as far as Park Lane on the left. A few yards up that there’s really nothing else for it but to Park Lane is the Park Tavern, originally known visit all three – after which, a 10-minute walk as the Blue Lodge and dating from the mid- will take you down to Bath Spa station, with eighteenth century. A recent visit found only several trains an hour to Bristol throughout the one of the three handpumps working, with day, and late services at 22.49, 23.21, and Courage Best on offer. 23.58. A little way along the Upper Bristol Road Andrew Swift is the New Westhall, another Wadworth’s pub. A little way beyond that is the Hop Pole, once, like the Royal Oak, a Moles’ house, but now Bath Ales’ first pub in Bath. It dates from the 1820s and is not only a past Bath CAMRA Pub of the Year, but was also named by the Bristol Evening Post in 2003 as having the best pub food in Bath – and it’s up against some pretty stiff competition. The patio at the back here is a particularly pleasant spot to spend a couple of hours on an autumn evening. The Hop Pole is now, like the Royal Oak, open all day. Walking on into town, you’ll pass Mr D’s burger bar, once a pub called the Robin Hood. A little way past that – if you look carefully – The Charmbury Arms you’ll come across the signboard for another Royal Oak. It’s pretty faded and weather- Wadworth’s pub, opened as a beerhouse beaten – not surprising seeing that the pub around 1880. Its internal partitions have been closed in 1961, and, after being saved from ripped out, but otherwise it is little changed demolition, was converted to a private house. from when it was a cider house, owned by The surprising thing is that it’s still there. Courage’s, in the 1960s. Just past the Royal Oak, on Monmouth The Royal Oak is a few yards further on, Place, is a pub that’s more noted for its live on the corner of the Lower Bristol Road. music – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (More on this pub in other articles elsewhere.) nights – than its beer, although a recent visit After leaving the Royal Oak, cross the found Wickwar Cotswold Way alongside the Lower Bristol Road, and walk up Windsor regular offerings of Courage Best and Bass. The Hop Pole 32 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Pub news Two Bristol bars, not I confess known for their real ale, have been among the first to apply for 24-hour licences under the new government rules. All In One in Park Street and Sukoshi in Frogmore Street have both put their names down for round the clock boozing. On a similar theme, The Riverside Inn in Saltford has obtained permission to stay open until 1am, despite opposition from local residents. The Bishop’s Tavern The Clifton The Happy Cocks in Hengrove has been Bishop’s Tavern. Originally a Hogshead pub, and curiouser, said Alice. closed down by Greene King. Originally, it but sold off to the Laurel Pub Company. The The Quadrant in Clifton, mentioned in the had been thought that the pub was jus closing real ale selection appears to have been reduced, last Pints West, now only offers Butcombe for refurbishment, but there now seems to be with just Greene King beers available on my Blond for the real ale enthusiast. They do now some doubt as to whether it is planned to last visit. stock a variety of lagers – is that an reopen at all. We’ll keep an eye on it for the Meanwhile, back in Old Market, the oxymoron? – including Cruzcampo, San next Pints West. oriental bar and café known as T.A.T.U., has Miguel and Amstel on draught… The Palace Hotel (also known as the Gin had to close because of a lack of trade. Good luck to the Portcullis round the Palace) has been put up for sale. We hope it Hopefully it will reopen soon and, with any corner in Wellington Terrace, which has just will continue to be a pub. luck, back under its original name of ‘The reopened to have another crack at making some Word has reached us that – after years of Eagle’. money. This pub – with its living room neglect – The Rummer at one end of St. drinking area upstairs, has had a tough time of Nicholas Market is now undergoing a ‘sympa- it in recent years. Let’s hope the Butcombe thetic refurbishment’ with a view to opening Bitter proves popular. later in the year. More on this next time. The Lamb Inn in Iron Acton is fast taking the mantle of being that village’s Real Ale and Cider Champion after the demise of the Rose & Crown. They now have up to eight real ales, with Courage Best Bitter, Sharp’s Doom Bar Bitter, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Uley Pig’s Ear, Bass and Taylor Landlord all available as I write. They also offer three traditional ciders (currently Thatcher’s Cheddar Valley, Moles Black Rat and Wes- ton’s Old Rosie). For the technophiles among The Albion you, there is also free wi-fi access, whatever The Albion in Boyces Avenue in Clifton that may be. has undergone a complete transformation. No Duncan Shine The Queen Vic longer a dark, dare I say slightly dingy student The Queen Victoria on Gloucester Road bar. A total refurbishment inside and out has Other news from Clifton: The Lansdown has undergone a refurbishment, with a fetching taken place. It now describes itself as a “Pub continues to serve a very decent pint of real black and gold livery now apparent. Courage and Dining Rooms”. A very nice pint of ale: three at the time of writing, in the form of Best appears to be the only real ale here. Fans Cotleigh Tawny was on offer when I tried it Sharp’s Doom Bar, Otter Bitter, and Barn- of Scottish football will be pleased to hear that out, with Butcombe Bitter also available. A stormer from Bath Ales. The landlord is games shown on satellite/cable channel Setanta third handpump sometimes dispenses considering making use of a fourth handpump are shown here as well as the usual Sky games. Butcombe Blond. I’ve yet to spot all three but was not sure whether it should be for available at the same time though. Not sure another real ale or a traditional cider. What do about the clientele here yet: while I was there a you think he should do? Two pubs making chap came in, order half a dozen “River Yelm the most of the popularity of Sharp’s beers are Oysters”, which he washed down with the Royal Oak and the Greyhound. The Royal Thatchers Traditional Cider! Addlestone’s Oak offers Doom Bar and Cornish Coaster cloudy cider is also available, and the food is and now has an official-looking Sharp’s not all as posh as the Oysters (and Quails Royal Oak sign on the wall outside. The Eggs) would lead you to believe. Greyhound has also been selling Doom Also refurbished after a long wait is the Bar and also a special IPA from Sharp’s in nearby Clifton in Regent Street. They have support of the RNLI. The Grapes Tavern wisely retained the charming little front bar, as has now doubled the number of real ale well as the larger one at the back. Interesting handpumps to four. Three Wadworth selection of beers too: as well as London Pride, beers were available recently, with hopes The Golden Lion Bass, Butcombe Blond, Bath Ales Barn- for guests beer in the pipeline. SP stormer or Gem, and a “Clifton Ale” also from A bit further down Gloucester Road, the Bath Ales, they offer Leffe Blonde and – I If you’re a landlord/lady or regular with some Golden Lion (for a while Finnegan’s Wake) has believe almost a first for Bristol (second only news about your pub, please feel free to email now lost its mock Irish theming, inside and to the Mall in Clifton) – Draught Früli from [email protected] or out. Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Morland Old the Van Diest Brewery in Belgium. It is [email protected] (we’ll share the Speckled Hen and Courage Best available here. apparently “a new high quality Belgian white info) and we’ll be glad to consider putting it into Still further down, we come to the beer blended with pure fruit juice”. Curiouser the next issue of Pints West. National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 33 ...... PINTS WEST ...... Get three months membership for free – join CAMRA by direct debit

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Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account 34 Local CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.uk ...... PINTS WEST Past editions of Bellringer Diary pub crawl Diary of the Bristol & District branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. PINTS WEST See inside for the Weston-super-Mare sub-branch diary and contact. on-line and in colour Wed 23 Aug – Branch meeting, Horts, Broad Bristol and District CAMRA would like to Street, Bristol at 8pm. remind readers that we have a web site at Tues 6 Sept – Clevedon explorer trip. Depart www.camrabristol.org.uk from Cornubia, Bristol at 6.45pm. This contains information on the local branch Wed 14 Sept – Branch committee meeting at and the Campaign for Real Ale generally, as Zero Degrees (venue provisional – to be well as details of forth-coming meetings, confirmed) at 8pm. socials and other activities. The web site is Tues 20 Sept – West Mendip GBG survey regularly updated and so is the best place to trip. Depart from Cornubia at 6.45pm. find out about any last minute changes to Wed 28 Sept – Branch Meeting, Ebdon arrangements as well as some of the latest real Arms, Worle (venue provisional – to be ale related stories. It is also the place where confirmed) at 8pm. you can find past editions of Pints West, from Tuesd 4 Oct – GBG survey trip. Depart from edition 50 onwards. Number 50 also contains Cornubia at 6.45pm. a potted history of Pints West from the very Sat 8 Oct – Trip to cider works in Somerset. first edition in 1989, when it was then known Depart from Cornubia at 9am. (Start time to be as Avon Drinker. Recent editions are in colour. confirmed – ring 0117 9678177 or 07946 414129). PINTS WEST ~ brought to you Wed 12 Oct – Branch committee meeting at Pick up your free copy of the second the Cornubia at 8pm. entirely by unpaid volunteers . . . Tues 18 Oct – Explorer trip. Depart from issue of The Bellringer Crawl Cornubia at 6.45pm. Seven thousand copies of Pints West are publication – fully updated for 2005 – Wed 26 Oct – Branch meeting, Horts City distributed free to pubs in and around the from any of these Bath pubs: Tavern, Broad Street, Bristol at 8pm. cities of Bristol and Bath ... and beyond. Letters: please send any correspondence to Ye Old Farmhouse, The Star Inn, The Thurs 27 Oct – Cider Saunter. Start Apple Bell, the Pig & Fiddle, the Old Green Tree, Southville at 7pm. Pints West Editor, Steve Plumridge, Garden Flat, 6 Royal York Villas, Tues 1 Nov – GBG survey trip. Depart from Tree, the Porter, the Volunteer Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JR Rifleman’s Arms, the Raven, the Cornubia at 6.45pm. or by email to [email protected] Wed 9 Nov – Branch committee meeting at Advertising: contact Steve Plumridge (details Crystal Palace, the Huntsman Inn, or the Cornubia at 8pm. above). Current rates are: Lambretta’s Bar. Tues 15 Nov – GBG survey trip. Depart from 6cm x 6cm £28 6cm x 8cm £36 Cornubiaat 6.45pm. 8cm x 9cm £46 9cm x 12cm £65 Wed 23 Nov – Branch meeting (venue to be 12cm x 19cm £130 (£200 on back page) THANKS TO THIS ISSUE’S confirmed) at 8pm. Full back page £375 Tues 29 Nov – GBG Survey trip. Depart from Other sizes may be available (not guaranteed). CONTRIBUTORS Cornubia at 6.45pm. Published by the Bristol & District Branch of For more information on local events either attend the Campaign for Real Ale, August 2005 © Adrian Tierney-Jones our branch meetings or check the diary section on Next edition: end of Nov 2005 (probably). Pennie Postlethwaite our web site at www.camrabristol.org.uk Reproduction: any written article in this Colin Postlethwaite publication may be reproduced provided the Norman Spalding source (Pints West), including the contributor’s Richard Brooks name where applicable, is stated. (No using Phil Luddington logos or pictures without prior permission.) Mark Ashman Subscriptions: to be put on a mailing list (for Duncan Shine UK addresses) send a cheque for £2.50 to the Laurie Gibney editor, made payable to “Steve Plumridge” (or Andrew Swift The Direct Debit Guarantee some 2nd class stamps up to that value). This Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Steve O’Shea Building Societies that take part in the Direct CAMRA Good Beer Guide: suggestions for Phill the Pint Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of future entries, and comments on existing ones, Robin E Wild the Scheme is monitored and protected by can be made to our GBG Coordinator, Richard Pete Tanner your own Bank or Building Society. Walters, care of the editor (above). Tim Nickolls If the amounts to be paid or the payment Further information on all aspects of Jade Potter dates change CAMRA will notify you 10 CAMRA can be had from Ray Holmes on Steve Reed working days in advance of your account (0117) 9605357 (h). being debited or as otherwise agreed. Dave Jane Trading Standards Officers: contact Editor: Steve Plumridge If an error is made by CAMRA or your Bank or numbers for problems such as consistent short Building Society, you are guaranteed a full measures, no price lists... and immediate refund from your branch of the Bristol: 0117 9223444 Views expressed in Pints West are those amount paid. of the individual authors and not S. Glos: 01454 624000 necessarily supported by CAMRA. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by Glos: 01452 426201 writing to your Bank or Building Society. Inclusion of an advertisement does not Please also send a copy of your letter to us. N. Somerset: 01934 632026 imply endorsement by CAMRA. B.A.N.E.S: 01225 396755 National CAMRA web site : www.camra.org.uk 35 PINTS WEST Award-winning newsletter of the Bristol & District Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale ...... New Butcombe Brewery Tour Readers of the summer edition of Pints West may recall that beer production transferred to Butcombe’s new brewery in Wrington in March this year. On 5th July Bristol CAMRA members were given the first opportunity to tour the new brewery with everything up and running. And we were very impressed. Guy Newell, successor to Simon Whitmoor and Butcombe’s new owner, explained that beer production has increased steadily since the transfer and is now at a record 22,000 barrels a year. The brewery has expansion capacity to 45,000 barrels per year and, if achieved, would elevate Butcombe to one of the largest real ale brewers in the south- west. Great care had been taken to ensure consistency of beer taste and quality during the transfer. This had certainly been achieved with many regular Butcombe drinkers com- menting on a clearly detectable improvement in beer condition. Guy said this had been similar amount on buildings. Investment of this achieved by being able to rack the beers magnitude has to be for the long term and, as directly from the fermentation vessels. At the was spared in the design and specification of Guy confirmed that Butcombe will remain 100 old site beer had to be transferred via racking top quality brewing equipment and brand new per cent committed to real ale brewing, what tanks to the casks which caused some loss of brewery premises. While Guy was under- better testimony could anyone find for condition, an old Butcombe characteristic few standably coy about revealing actual figures, CAMRA’s case that real ale is popular and of us will miss. we estimate that not far short of one million profitable. It was heartwarming to see that no expense Phil Luddington pounds has been spent on new kit and a Photos by Richard Brooks Out and about with the Bristol Beer Factory THE BRISTOL BEER FACTORY provided the real ale tent at the recent Keynsham Music Festival. Simon Bartlett and Jemma Walsh (which is actually two-thirds of the BBF’s total staff!) both went to school in Keynsham so this was a proud moment for them to have their beers at the festival. The beer could not have gone down any better with the very last pint from the very last cask being sold at 9 o’clock in the evening. Gold, the Beer Factory’s 5% golden ale, became Keynsham’s favourite with this selling out before the 4.2% No.7. The Bristol Beer Factory decided to provide beer engines on the bar as opposed to serving their ales straight from the barrel so giving the tent

From left to right: Andy Hepworth (Hepworth & Co, The Beer Station), Adam (Bath Ales), Simon Bartlett & Chris Thurgeson (Bristol Beer Factory) at the Shambala music festival. a more of a friendly pub feel as opposed to just a long serving hatch. Keeping the beers cool could have been a problem but bringing them out of the cold store at the very last minute and also making sure there were plenty of cold wet towels in place certainly did the trick. On another story, the Bristol Beer Factory, Hepworth & Co, and the Pipe & Slippers all joined forces to provide all of the beer at this year’s Shambala music festival in Plympton, Plymouth on 12th to 14th August. Bristol Beer Factory brewed a 4.4% Shambala Golden festival ale especially for the event and Hepworth’s provided a 5.0% organic lager called Shambolic. The festival-goers couldn’t believe their luck to have such great products and when it was time to take the bar down at 8 o’clock on the Monday morning there was still a party going on in the beer tent. Adam from Bath Ales gave a welcome hand making the bar and Bristol Beer Factory at the Keynsham Music Festival probably gave a hand in finishing off all of the beer as well!